Yukon Territory

Dawson City, Yukon Territory

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See Top of the World Hwy and Klondike Hwy for the roads leading to Dawson City.

Dawson City

Dawson City ... you either get it, or you don't.  It's not a fancy place ... gravel streets, wood boardwalks, old buildings, and tourists.  The old buildings are interesting.   And so are the outlying areas. 

It is worth making the trip to the top of Dome Mountain and driving the road out to the national historical site at Discovery Claim (although not as interesting now as it was 10 years ago).  Visit Bear Creek and whatever else strikes your fancy.  The Visitor Centre in Dawson City is a great resource.

Many of the historical sites are outside of town; to truly see the area, you must explore with a vehicle.  If you can't drive around, I suggest the Parks Canada booklet:  South Dawson City Walking Tour (pdf)

These are pictures of the sights ...  

Looking towards the Midnight Dome, Dawson City, Yukon
Looking northward on Third Street towards the Midnight Dome - September 2010

Dawson City Street
Looking northward on Fifth Avenue from Front Street - September 2012

Palace Grand Theatre, Dawson City      Palace Grand Theatre, Dawson City, Yukon
Palace Grand Theatre - September 1993 and again in June 2008

Interior of the Palace Grand Theatre, Dawson City
Interior of the Palace Grand Theatre in 2008
Opened in July 1899.  http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/yt/dawson/natcul/natcul2_e.asp

Dawson City Government House, Yukon
Government House - September 1986
http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/yt/dawson/natcul/natcul1_e.asp

Red Feather Saloon, Dawson City 1986
Red Feather Saloon - September 1986

Red Feather Saloon, Dawson City, Yukon
A rebuilt Red Feather Saloon - June 2008

Ammo Store, Dawson City 1986
Strait's Auction House - September 1986
Constructed in 1901 it became known as the Guns and Ammunition Shop.

Strait's Auction House, Dawson City, Yukon
Strait's Auction House - June 2008

Strait's Auction House, Dawson City
Strait's Auction House - September 2012

3rd Avenue Complex, Dawson City, Yukon
3rd Avenue Complex - June 2008

3rd Avenue Complex - September 2010
The 3rd Avenue Complex demonstrates the effects of permafrost thawing/freezing - September 2010

S.S. Keno, Dawson City, Yukon
S.S. Keno Paddle Wheeler - June 2008

Klondike Motors, Dawson City, Yukon
Klondike Motors - June 2008

Klondike Thawing Machine Company, Dawson City, Yukon
Klondike Thawing Machine Co. building - June 2008

Westminster Hotel, Dawson City
Westminster Hotel - June 2008

Midnight Sun Hotel, Dawson City
Midnight Sun Hotel - June 2008

Lowe's Mortuary, Dawson City
Lowe's Mortuary - June 2008


Diamond Tooth Gerties - September 1986
Local gambling hall - http://www.dawsoncity.org/klondikeattractions/diamondtoothgerties/

St Andrews Church, Dawson City
St Andrews Church - June 2008

Jack London cabin, Dawson City, Yukon
Jack London Cabin - June 2008

Robert Service Cabin
Robert Service Cabin - September 2012

Robert Service cabine, Dawson City, Yukon
Robert Service Cabin - June 2008

Robert Service Cabin, Dawson City, Yukon
Robert Service Cabin - September 1993

The Midnight Dome

The Midnight Dome is a must see.  On my first return visit as an adult I was somewhat confused about the route up the hill, but after asking at the Visitor's Centre we found the way.  Turned out my memory was not wrong; the route that had changed.

A little personal trivia ... when I was a kid, my family visited the Dome for the longest day of the year.  The Dome is a popular spot on this special night and there was a good gathering of people up there.  Us kids got bored (just what is so exciting about a sun that never sets?), so after asking our folks for permission, we started walking back to Dawson City.  We were maybe half way when RCMP cruisers drove by headed up the hill ... I didn't learn until later that those cops were responding to a complaint about the party on the Dome.  And my mom was arrested for drinking in public!

Midnight Dome viewed from Dawson city waterfront park
Midnight Dome viewed from Dawson's waterfront park - September 2010

Yukon River from Dome Mountain, Dawson City, Yukon
View from Dome Summit looking north on the Yukon River - September 1993

View of Yukon River from Dome Mountain, Dawson City
View from Dome Summit looking north along the Yukon River - June 2008

View of Dawson City from Dome Mountain, Dawson City
View of Dawson City from Dome Summit - June 2008
That is the "Top of the World" highway on the ridge above the Yukon River.

Paddle Wheeler Graveyard

Paddle wheel graveyard near Dawson City
Standing beside one of the big paddlewheels - September 1993

Paddle Wheeler, Dawson City
Sad to see a ship completely collapsed - September 1993

Paddle wheel collapsing, Dawson City
And another about to collapse completely - September 1993

Dredge No. 4 - National Historic Site of Canada

One of two dozen dredges that worked this area, Dredge No. 4 rests on Claim 17 Below Discovery on Bonanza Creek near the spot where it ceased operations in 1959. Dredge No. 4 is the largest wooden hull, bucket line dredge in North America. 
More info: http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/yt/dn4/index_E.asp
See location on Google Maps.

Dredge No. 4, Dawson City, Yukon
Dredge No. 4 - September 1993

Dredge No. 4, Dawson City, Yukon
Dredge No. 4 - September 1993

Dredge No. 4, Dawson City, Yukon
Dredge No. 4 - June 2008

Dredge No. 4, Dawson City, Yukon
Dredge No. 4, Dawson City - June 2008 --  N63 56.604 W139 20.145

Bear Creek

Bear Creek was an industrial complex of some 65 buildings and related structures located 10 kilometres (6 miles) east of Dawson City. From 1905 to 1966, Bear Creek was the Klondike headquarters for corporate mining interests, acting as the administrative and repair centre for the goldfield's dredging operations. 
More info: http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/yt/dn4/natcul/natcul2_E.asp

We were disappointed that this historical site was closed when we visited in 2008.

Bear Creek, Dawson City, Yukon
September 1993

Bear Creek, Dawson City, Yukon
Ford tanker truck used as a fire engine at Bear Creek - September 1993

Other pictures

Yukon River ferry crossing at Dawson City, Yukon
Yukon River ferry crossing - September 2010

Moosehide, Yukon River, near Dawson City
At the small community of Moosehide, on the Yukon River, looking towards Dawson City - September 1993

Visiting the historic cemeteries in Dawson City is an interesting experience.  One can't help but wonder about the lives these people lived so many years ago.  I was impressed with the Royal North West Mounted Police cemetery ... there seemed to be so many who died so young ...

Refer to the Yukon government booklet: A Walking Tour of Dawson City Cemeteries (pdf)

RCMP cemetery near Dawson City, Yukon
Police Cemetery near Dawson City - September 1993

RCMP cemetery near Dawson City, Yukon
Police Cemetery near Dawson City -  September 1993