Gold Rush Gangsters & Conmen Once Ruled This Alaska Gateway Town That Launched 100,000 Prospectors

Skagway, Alaska –

Skagway, Alaska is basically a time capsule of 1890s Gold Rush drama (complete with actual saloons).
This tiny town of 1,000 people started as the gateway to the Klondike gold fields, where thousands of prospectors began their brutal trek to strike it rich.
Today it’s all historic buildings, vintage trains, and cruise ships instead of gold panners, but that wild frontier spirit is still going strong.
Here’s more of the story.

Broadway Street Retains Its Original 1897 Layout

Broadway Street is a seven-block historic corridor with wooden boardwalks and false-front buildings, now home to museums and saloons.

It was officially recognized when the downtown district became a national landmark in 1962 and joined the national register in 1966.

You get access to significant buildings like the Mascot Saloon (Broadway and 3rd), the Lynch and Kennedy Dry Goods Store (between 3rd and 4th).

The Pantheon (Broadway and 4th) started as a hardware store in 1898, became a saloon in 1903, and operated until Skagway enacted prohibition in 1916.

You can join ranger-led tours from the visitor center at Second and Broadway, or follow self-guided routes through this carefully preserved district.

This Historic Landmark Was a Hub For Working Miners

The Red Onion Saloon (started in 1899) gives you a real taste of frontier life. The downstairs is still a working bar and the place houses a museum.

Back in the day, the place attracted tired miners looking for drinks and company. Upstairs, you’ll see ten small but fancy rooms where the “ladies” worked.

The walls are covered with old photos, and they’ve got authentic period costumes on display too. In 2025, expect to pay $20-30 per person for food and drinks.

This National Park Preserves Gold Rush History

Since 1976, the Klondike Gold Rush Park has protected important sites like the Skagway Historic District, White Pass Trail, and Chilkoot Trail.

The visitor center, open daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm between late April and early October, is housed in the restored 1898 White Pass & Yukon Route Depot.

Walking tours leave regularly throughout the day (9 am, 10 am, 11 am, 2 pm, and 3 pm), and while tickets are free, groups are limited to 30 people.

Don’t miss the impressive display showing the actual ton of supplies each miner had to carry over Chilkoot Pass or explore 15 restored buildings in the district.

This Parlor Was a Notorious Criminal Headquarters

The Jeff Smith’s Parlor building was the headquarters of outlaw Jefferson “Soapy” Smith, who came to Alaska from Denver and spent three months defrauding miners.

In 1922, Martin Itjen bought the saloon and converted it into a museum. It operated until 1986, was donated to the National Park Service in 2007, and reopened in 2016.

It’s conveniently located near the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center, making it easy to include in your explorations.

The exhibits focus especially on Smith’s short but notorious criminal career that ended with his shooting on Skagway’s wharf, showing justice on the frontier.

This Building Is Covered in 8,000 Pieces of Driftwood

The Arctic Brotherhood Hall, a community hub since 1899, features a facade covered with over 8,000 pieces of driftwood.

It began when gold prospectors arriving in Skagway formed a club, starting with just 11 members, they quickly grew to 300 at Camp Skagway No. 1.

Though exclusive, the Brotherhood counted several famous honorary members, including Presidents Harding, Roosevelt, McKinley, and King Edward VII of England.

Today the building houses the Skagway Visitor Center.

Look for details like “A.B.” and “1899” above the door, “Camp Skagway No. 1” on the overhang, and the Brotherhood’s symbol (a gold pan and nuggets) near the roof.

This Saloon Survived Prohibition in Skagway

Head to the Mascot Saloon Museum at Broadway and 3rd Avenue. It was one of 70 saloons operating during Skagway’s peak.

Since opening in 1898, it survived Skagway’s 1916 prohibition as a bar, later becoming a drugstore and serving various roles until the National Park Service took over in 1976.

Today it’s the only saloon in Alaska that doesn’t serve alcohol (though it certainly did during the gold rush) as most sources say.

The museum is open daily from early May through late September, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM, giving you plenty of time to visit.

This Railroad Was Built During the Klondike Gold Rush

You can’t beat the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, a 20-mile climb from sea level to nearly 3,000 feet, with a steep 3.9% gradient.

Built in 1898, this narrow gauge railroad is an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark—on par with the Eiffel Tower and Panama Canal.

Once you’re on board, you’ll find open seating with restrooms in each car, and guides who explain all about landmarks like Rocky Point and Inspiration Point.

In 2025, tickets for the Summit Excursion run $170 for adults and $85 for kids. The round trip takes about 2:45 hours and doesn’t require passports.

This Trail Is Called the World’s Longest Outdoor Museum

This 33-mile path through the Coast Mountains links Dyea, Alaska, to Lake Bennett, British Columbia.

During the 1890s gold rush, the Chilkoot Trail was the main route to the Yukon goldfields which winds along the Taiya River.

Each year, more than 15,000 people visit this historic corridor to see hundreds of original gold rush artifacts preserved by U.S. and Canadian park services.

Most people take 3-4 days to hike the entire trail, and permits are required from June through September.

Get yours at the Trail Center, on Broadway between 5th and 6th Avenues.

The National Park Service also maintains nine campgrounds along the route. Staff will provide the latest info on trail conditions, obstacles, and bear activity.

This Cabin Was Built Before the Gold Rush

Before Skagway, it was Captain William Moore’s homestead. His 1887 cabin was saved by his son Ben in 1900 for its historical significance.

Later, the Moore House was added, and today it’s been restored to look exactly like it did in 1904, complete with the family’s original furniture.

The Moore Homestead complex, located at 5th and Spring Street, offers free admission. The buildings are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm (late May to September end).

Archaeological digs revealed that the large lawn between Moore Cabin and the Goldberg Cigar Store was where the infamous “Dead Horse Trail” began.

This Waterfall Provides a Natural Escape

Lower Reid Falls is a moderate hiking trail that winds through lush forest, creating a refreshing change from downtown exploring.

The trail to Lower Reid Falls is manageable for most with basic fitness. It takes about 30-45 minutes each way from downtown Skagway.

You’ll follow Gold Rush Creek upstream through dense forest. Wear sturdy shoes, as some parts might be muddy after rain.

In summer, wildflowers add vibrant color, while the falls create a soothing soundtrack that’s remained unchanged since long before gold seekers arrived.

This Ghost Town Was Once Skagway’s Rival

Just 9 miles from Skagway, you’ll find Dyea which was Skagway’s main competitor in 1898 and the starting point for the Chilkoot Trail.

But once the White Pass & Yukon Route railroad came into being in 1900, Dyea quickly faded away, soon becoming a ghost town.

The Slide Cemetery honors the Palm Sunday Avalanche of April 3, 1898—a series of snow slides that killed 48 to 100 people.

The 2.5-mile drive to Dyea winds along stunning scenery. Be sure to stop at the Skagway Overlook turnoff, which features a viewing platform.

For more info about the one-mile loop, pick up the Dyea Townsite Self-Guided Walking Tour brochure from the National Park Service Center in Skagway.

This Cemetery Contains the Grave of a Famous Con Man

About 1.5 miles north of downtown, the Gold Rush Cemetery preserves the graves of early settlers and gold-seekers who didn’t make it.

The most famous burial belongs to Jefferson “Soapy” Smith, the notorious con man who terrorized miners for three months before his dramatic death.

Next to him lies the town hero Frank Reid, the man who actually stopped Smith but later died from his wounds after a brutal struggle.

We can thank early Skagway resident Martin Itjen for preserving the burial grounds. Without his efforts, this crucial piece of history might have been lost.

And getting there is easy. Just take a city shuttle from downtown or enjoy a 1.5-mile walk along State Street if you prefer.

This Museum Occupies a Historic College Building

Don’t miss the Skagway Museum and Archives offering an extensive collection of artifacts from Indigenous Tlingit culture and the gold rush era.

The museum is located on the first floor of the McCabe College building, built in 1899 as Alaska’s first college prep school.

The college was constructed on land donated by Skagway founder Captain William Moore, showing how even a frontier town valued education.

For serious researchers, the archives provide insights into how Skagway developed as a key transportation link between coastal Alaska and the Yukon interior.