Skagway, Alaska - Goldrush Town of the Late 1800's

Skagway Has Historic Sites and White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad

Of the 20,000 gold prospectors who once lived in Skagway, less than a thousand residents remain. However, the small town is filled with historical reminders of the Gold Rush days. Fourteen buildings are on the National Historic Register, and you can close your eyes and go back to the days of the wild west. In the late 1800's, Skagway was a truly wild town, which was run by thugs and filled with saloons and brothels. Thousands of people searching for their fortune came to Skagway on their way to the Yukon.

Thousands of cruise ship passengers visit Skagway today, searching for souvenirs and memories. Many passengers choose to tour the old town or to ride the famous narrow gauge railroad over the scenic mountains on the White Pass and Yukon Railway or to the Yukon Suspension Bridge.

The Yukon Highway connects Skagway with Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, making it one of only two towns (along with Haines) in Southeast Alaska where you can drive, which contributes to the many tourists.