August 21, 2023
DAWSON CITY
After breakfast, we discover Dawson City. A visit to the Jack London and Robert Service cabins and the museum are on the program. A highlight is the drive into the Bonanza and Eldorado Creeks where we visit the historic Dredge #4 and an active gold mine. You have the chance to try your luck panning for gold in the Klondike. In the late afternoon we travel up the Midnight Dome Road for fantastic views of Dawson City and the Yukon River. After a true northern dinner you have the time to explore the city yourself by foot. Overnight accommodation in Dawson City.
In September 1898, the first dredge began working the Yukon River. Promotion of the Klondike fields brought in two large companies, the Canadian Klondike Mining Company in 1905 and the Yukon Gold Company a few years later.
Large land holdings, called concessions had to be available to the corporations. Through negotiations with the Federal Government, the first concession was granted in 1900 to Joe Boyle. The corporations constructed hydroelectric power stations to supply a reliable and consistent supply of power to run the dredges. They constructed a system of dams and ditches to provide an adequate supply of water for the dredges.
Dawson City was the key to the success of the efforts of the large corporations. It could provide government administration and banking services. The transportation network, of rail and steamship, that ended in Dawson City, ensured that the companies could receive the supplies of machinery that were needed to operate. Dawson City also provided a large labour force and suppliers and services to meet the corporate mining needs.
Dredge No. 4 built in 1912 for the Canadian Klondike Mining Company, was the largest wooden hulled bucket lined dredge in North America. It worked in the Klondike Valley on the "Boyle Concession" until 1940 and then was relocated to Bonanza Creek and worked this valley until 1959.
At the peak of corporate mining, a dozen dredges, churned through the creeks. Dredging continued in the Klondike until 1966, when the last of the Yukon Consolidated Gold Company's dredges shut down. Dredge No. 4 represents the many decades of corporate mining in the Canadian mid-north through the 20th century.
This legally defined mining claim measures 500 by 2000 feet and is located on Bonanza Creek (formerly Rabbit Creek), a tributary of the Klondike River. Take a stroll along the ‘Discovery Trail’ and find out what spawned one of the greatest migrations of the nineteenth century. History buffs will be impressed with the evidence of various methods of mining, while photography lovers will revel in the unique light that reaches the valley.
You may see some folks panning there in the next few days, these are a couple groups bookings that I am honouring and then the troughs will be drained. It has been an amazing fun time as I have said so many times. Thank you to the thousands of folks who have had fun at Claim 33, it was a pleasure....
The first recorded group to gather on the Midnight Dome to watch the midnight sun was in 1899. The occasion was a catered event with entertainment. There were candies, cigars and drinks. And for entertainment the group invited a poet by the name of Captain Jack Crawford to recite some poems from his collection.
Unfortunately, the group's timing was off as the sun set 1/2 an hour before midnight - only to rise again 2 hours later. In 1925 a road was built leading up to the dome so to provide quicker access for tourists arriving from the riverboats visiting Dawson City.
There's a little cabin, on Eighth Avenue in Dawson City, which was home to the world's most famous Yukoner. Though he never owned it, the cabin was his pride and joy, and inspired some of his most famous poems and a book which became a Hollywood motion picture.
The two-room cabin, set amongst the willows and the alders on the hill-side overlooking Dawson, was built in 1897. The first owner was Mrs. Matilda Day. Later, it was sold to Mrs. Edna Clarke, who rented the cabin to Robert Service in November of 1909. Service had written his most famous poems while working as a bank clerk in Whitehorse. When the Bank of Commerce transferred him to Dawson in the spring of 1908, he quickly discovered that his poems were earning more money than the bank was paying him. He quit the bank, rented the cabin and began his career as a full-time author.
Here he wrote his third volume of poetry called "Rhymes of a Rolling Stone". The collection included such gems as the Trapper's Christmas Eve, Athabaska Dick and Goodbye Little Cabin. He also wrote his one and only novel called the "Trail of '98". In 1929, Metro Goldwin Mayer released it as a movie with the same name. It starred Dolores Del Rio, Ralph Forbes and Karl Dante.
T
he Jack London Cabin and Interpretive Centre is a historic site in Dawson City. Jack London, the tenant of the cabin, was a famous American writer who visited the Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush.
The story of Jack London begins from his home in San Francisco when one day he comes across an article about the Klondike Gold Rush. The article peaked his interest enough that at the age of 21 he departed from San Francisco for the Yukon to claim his riches.
Jack London arrived in the Yukon Territory, like many miners did, by backpacking the Chilkoot Pass and by paddling a chain of lakes starting with Bennett Lake and eventually leading to the Yukon River. It was a route that had taken many lives before him. From the day of his departure, life in the Yukon was rough for Jack London. It did not take long, when a year later Jack was a broke man - penniless.
Later in life Jack London began to write about his experiences in the Yukon. He kept writing and writing. In total Jack published around 50 novels. His most recognized novels of the Yukon would be "The Call of the Wild" and "White Fang".
Today.. the story of Jack London is remembered in Dawson City and in Oakland, California, USA. Yes, there are two sites dedicated to the man. You see.. the Jack London Cabin was originally built on the banks of Henderson Creek in 1898 which is about 120 kilometres south of Dawson City.
When Jack London left the Yukon penniless he abandoned his cabin. In 1926. And then some scribbling by Jack London was discovered on the wall of the cabin by two trappers. In 1936 the the logs were divvied up between Dawson City and his hometown of Oakland, California, USA. Hence the two sites.
The logs in Dawson City were put to use in building a replica of the cabin, his food cache and the interpretive centre. The centre contains photos, artifacts and newspaper clippings.
Visit three generations of the Millar family at their working placer goldmine. Your friendly guide will take you right onto the mine site to learn how gold is deposited by nature and extracted by man.
Tour the original Goldbottom Roadhouse and discover what other treasures frozen in time are sometimes uncovered. Gain insights into the day-to-day life of a modern miner and hear of fortunes made and failures endured. Learn how raw gold is concentrated, cleaned and worked with, and then experience the thrill of panning for your own gold from the very same pay dirt that is being sluiced.
Opening in 1971, Diamond Tooth Gerties prides itself on being Canada’s oldest casino! The Klondike Visitors Association came up with the idea of opening a casino in order to promote tourism to the Klondike. They had already been hosting “Klondike Nights” which included music, dancing and games of chance at both the Palace Grand Theatre and aboard the SS Keno, so a casino didn’t seem so far-fetched.
Laura Berton writes of Gertie in her memoir “I Married the Klondike”: “…a demure little woman, quite pretty and very self-effacing. She had little to say, but when she did speak, the famous diamond could be seen glittering between the two front teeth.”
Who knows what environmental damage those early dredges caused. Nevertheless, it is an interesting location.
ReplyDeleteMy word, what an adventure! I had no idea that the history of the area had been so well preserved. Thank you for a most interesting read this morning.
ReplyDeleteLove Robert Service poems. Looks like a great tour. When we were there years ago we couldn't walk around much because of fires and too much smoke. Have fun. Enjoy life.
ReplyDeleteI was mesmerized and I enjoyed both your photos and stories. Glad John found some gold, even if it was just a few flecks. He looked like he was enjoying himself.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Greek food. It always is so tasty and good for you.