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Mayo to Dawson City YT on the Klondike Highway
29 June 2008
This morning we backtracked on the Silver Trail, out to Stewart Crossing to
continue our
journey towards Dawson City. The scenery along this section of the
Klondike Hwy is
pleasant enough, but not spectacular. The road was in good condition.
Between Stewart Crossing and Dawson City
Klondike River south of Dawson City and the Dempster Highway junction
Northbound on the Klondike Highway approaching its junction with Hwy 5, the
Dempster Highway.
The Klondike River Yukon Government campground is a few miles south of Dawson
City. As with all territorial campgrounds, there are no services; however
the
campsites are private and roomy. The mosquitoes were also plentiful
this year!
Klondike River Yukon Gov't campground
After settling in at the campground and unhooking the fifth wheel, we continued towards Dawson City to once again look around and tour the area.
A drive up to the "Dome" is a must. We decided to start our sightseeing there. In previous years, we have seen black bears on our drive up the hill. No wildlife this year though. I also noticed there were more residences along the road on the way up.
Looking north from Dome Summit, along the Yukon River
Looking southwest from Dome Summit, with a view of Dawson City, the Yukon River
and the start of the Top of the World Highway across the river.
In Dawson City, the streets were quiet, which was surprising. This time of year it is usually busier. We also noticed the heritage sites were not as well-maintained as a decade ago, which was disappointing!
Robert Service's cabin
Jack London's cabin
Interior of Jack London's cabin
The Red Feather Saloon had been restored since my 1986 visit.
Red Feather Saloon - September 1986
Red Feather Saloon - June 2008
Below, the 3rd Avenue Complex, dating from 1901, illustrates what can happen
when heated buildings are placed on frozen ground; the frost melts, mixing water
with soil to form a muck into which the footings settle at different rates.
3rd Avenue Complex, built in 1901 - Parks Canada site
It was disappointing to learn that the Gaslight Follies (can-can girls) were no longer performing at the Palace Grand.
Palace Grand Theatre, built in 1899 - Parks Canada site
Years ago, it was difficult to get tickets for the show and we thoroughly enjoyed the show we saw while sitting in our little private box on the second floor. It was a good time, and it was easy to imagine the "good old days" when the theatre would have been the going thing and busy with dance hall girls and miners hoping to trade some gold for a dance!
Interior of the Palace Grand Theatre in 2008
Across from the Theatre is the restored Post Office, which is open for business during the summer months.
Historic Post Office, open for mail services during the summer - Parks Canada
site
Westminster Hotel, established 1898
Midnight Sun Hotel, established in 1972
Downtown Hotel, opened in 1982
Lowe's Mortuary, no longer open so hopefully no one needs those services - Parks
Canada site
Klondike Thawing Machine Company building, constructed in 1899 - Parks Canada
site
Klondike Motors - closed
S.S. Keno paddlewheeler, one of only two left in the Yukon
Built specifically to move lead & silver ore from Mayo to the outside - Parks
Canada site
The St. Andrew's Church and Manse was built in 1901, boasting a pipe organ
and
carved oak pews that accommodated 600 people.
St. Andrew's Church and Manse, 1901
Strait's Auction House, constructed in 1901, also known as the Guns and
Ammunition Shop
Strait's Auction House in 1986
The Binet Block, below, was built in 1898. Initially it was used for
government
offices and subsequently it was used as a hotel under a variety of names.
The Yukon Hotel
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.
To see the dredge, you must drive a gravel road south of Dawson. The drive is interesting as miners continue to work in the surrounding hills. During the summer, there are tours of the dredge and it is interesting to see the workings inside!
Dredge No. 4 - National Historic Site of Canada
Dredge No. 4 - historical site
More pictures of the dredge on my
Dawson
City page.
On previous visits we saw other sites, including the paddlewheel graveyard on the west side of the Yukon River and Bear Creek historical site (which was closed when we tried to visit this year).
Also, the historic graveyards are fascinating. If you like cemeteries, you might want to print this Yukon government booklet: A Walking Tour of Dawson City Cemeteries (pdf).