In the late 1890’s, gold was discovered in the Yukon. The easiest way to get there, which is not saying much, was to take a ship from civilization, such as Seattle or Vancouver, and head north through Alaska’s southeast fjords to a tiny outpost called Skagway, at the north end of the Taiya inlet.

You can see a glimpse of Taiya inlet at the center of this picture. Between the inlet and the site where this photo is taken is the Skagway River valley. One would continue up the valley to White Pass and the Canadian border.

Thousands tried on foot and horses but very few ever made it back with any gold. We had a private car on the White Pass & Yukon Railway up the valley and brought back views like this. More pictures of our modern day gold rush coming in Alaska Part 4.