Gold Rush in the Klondike

The areas of Alaska and Yukon are renowned for their many Gold Rushes. From 1880 until 1915, there occurred more than 50 gold rushes. The largest and the most important Gold Rush in the history was the Gold Rush in the Klondike in 1896. On August 16, 1896, in Bonanza (Rabbit) Creek were discovered rich gold deposits by three men that were led by Skookum Jim Mason. The news spread rapidly and reached the United States in July 1897. In spite of an economic depression that raged in the United States and that taught humbleness and economy to many thousands of depressed people, many became gold sick. Many businesses were stopped, real estates and farms were sold and the money was used to get to the north - to the Klondike. Only a few found any gold in the Klondike, but others penniless, yet full of adventures went back home as the gold rush calmed down around 1900. In this Gold Rush, the biggest behalf (several million dollars) was made by Seattle merchants that provided transporting services to gold seekers from Seattle to Nome from 1897 to 1899.

The gold seekers that adored to go to Alaska through Canada were allowed to enter with only one condition - that they bring provisions for one year with them. So they took many trips and carried all that they needed. Many of them died on the Chilkoot Trail, without even - having seen the Klondike. This trail was build by the Tlingit population as a trade route and became very popular while the gold rush period. Many gold seekers lost their lives in avalanches that struck on April 3, 1998.

Northwestern

The vast majority of the gold seekers stayed, either in Skagway, or either in Dyea. Before the Gold Rush Dyea was a small settlement that was build by natives and was used as a fishing camp - a real abandoned place in the middle of the woods. But all changed in the winter of 1897, when thousands of gold seekers came in Dyea. while the peak of the Gold Rush, more than 150 businesses together with 48 hotels and 2 hospitals were established. As soon as the gold rush was over, the Dyea post office was shut down due to its inactiveness in 1902. And if we visit Dyea today, all we can see is a thriving forest growing over the ghosts of burned down buildings.

While Dyea remains a ghost town, Skagway has kept its old time climate - all has been saved the way it was back in 1898. Skagway has opened the Klondike Gold Rush National Park that gives the feeling that the events happened yesterday.

The Klondike has not provided everybody with wealth. Gold rushers like Jack London, Big Mike Heney and Wyatt Earp gained worldwide fame thanks to spending their time in the Klondike. Jack London wrote his best books like "White fang" while time spent in the Klondike while the rush. Wyatt Earp spent several years in Nome while the Gold Rush in late 1890s and was digging gold in several places around Klondike until his death. Michael James Heney - also known as Big Mike Heney - built two railroads - the White Pass and Yukon Route and the Copper River and Northwestern - without having any technical knowledge. He was admired at that time by leading engineers who determined his work to be impossible.

Gold Rush in the Klondike