Stepping out on Front Street in Dawson City is like stepping out of a time capsule into the year 1898.
The entire little town is situated along the corner where the Klondike River meets the Yukon River. This was the place that all the gold rush stampeders were heading to from the ports near Skagway, Alaska.
Prior to 1897, it was filled with traditional wilderness homes like this one that has been preserved along the riverfront. The entire section of land under the town was once considered a marshy bog.
As the gold was found, more and more money poured into this town and businesses popped up and additional streets were added.
Residents had a problem building on the land due to permafrost. So all structures are raised off the ground, allowing the cold air to flow under the floor as to not thaw the ground. All sidewalks were also made with wood. You won’t find much concrete in town.
The ground freezes and thaws, which can really mess up houses and buildings. This one should have been lifted up off the ground.
There is no need for a car because you can walk anywhere that you need to go. The town has very few options for gas, groceries, or clothes/necessities.
The permanent population goes down quite a bit when winter arrives and the river freezes over. Some residents live across the river and they can drive a car or mush a dogsled over the ice.
This was not the same type of place that we Americans call the “Wild West”. Based on historical records, there was very little crime here during the short lived gold rush.
The population of Dawson City rose to 40,000 in 1898, but when the gold rush ended in 1899, all but 8,000 people left. In 1899 gold was discovered in Nome, Alaska so everyone headed in that direction.
At one point, there were 20 saloons in town, as well as several brothels and gambling halls. Remember, this town catered to miners….
Today’s population is around 1,300 people and tourism plays a major role in the economy. Dawson is the second most populated city in the Yukon Territory behind Whitehorse.
In some of the tourist attractions, the employees are dressed in period clothing. I think it adds to the charm of the town.
The banks are still visible in town. I counted at least three while walking around. There is still some mining in the surrounding area, so maybe they are needed.
What an experience! I can see why this is a stop on some of the Land and Sea cruise ship packages. We only saw about two tour buses each day. The restaurants and points of interest did not feel crowded at all.
Don’t expect high speed internet or fast 3G data on your phone if you visit. Thus the reason I am writing about Dawson from our campground in Whitehorse. I’ll tell you about what we toured in Dawson in my next post.