Trip from Nome, Alaska, Photograph Collection, 1900?

Overview of the Collection

Collector
Dorpat, Paul
Title
Trip from Nome, Alaska, Photograph Collection
Dates
1900? (inclusive)
Quantity
44 photographic prints (1 box)
Collection Number
PH0492
Summary
Photographs documenting gold mining in Nome, Alaska, localities in Seattle, Washington, and points on the Great Northern Railroad, ca. 1900.
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to the public.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was partially provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

Nome, Alaska, one of the state's oldest cities, was incorporated on April 9, 1901. The city is located on the south coast of the Seward Peninsula on the Bering Sea in northwestern Alaska. Nome experienced a population boom when, in 1898 and 1899, gold was discovered on nearby Anvil Creek and the beaches of Nome. Miners flocked to the area, setting up their tents on Nome's beaches. At one time, the population of Nome was estimated to have been 20,000 people. The city suffered a disastrous fire in 1934. During World War II, Nome was an important location as the last stop for planes on their way to Russia for the Lend/Lease program. Today, Nome is known as the finish spot for the Iditarod sled-dog race.

At the turn of the century, there existed two routes to Nome. One went over land through Canada, along the Yukon River. The second, the "All Water Route," started in Seattle and stopped in the Aleutian Islands at Dutch Harbor. The trip continued north through the Bering Sea to Cape Nome. The map at right shows the All Water Route; please click it to see a larger version of the image.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains photographs of mining operations and city life in Nome, Alaska, as well as locations on the Alaska coast, Seattle, and along the Great Northern Railway. The photographer is unknown.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View selections from the collection in digital format

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The arrangement of the photographs is based on a surmised trip chronology beginning in Nome, Alaska, traveling by ship to Seattle, continuing by train over land, and ending at the headwaters of the Missouri River in Montana. The caption on photograph 21 ("our last glimpse of Nome") indicates that the trip began in that city. Because the photographs are undated and the provenance is unknown, the trip chronology has been deduced from the content of the photographs and what may have been the most likely route for the trip.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Paul Dorpat, 1996.

Dorpat, author of several books about early Seattle, is an expert in historical photography. Paul Dorpat is a columnist for the Seattle Times and is on the Board of Trustees and staff of History Ink, a non-profit organization which produces HistoryLink, an online encyclopedia of Washington history.

Processing Note

Processed by Shannon B. Lynch, 2003.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Nome, AlaskaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
1 1 undated
1 2 ca. 1900
1 3 Aug. 1, 1900
1 4 June 23, 1900
1 5
Six men with shovels, mining equipment
On photo: "A group of miners. Knute with his hands in his pockets."
ca. 1900
1 6
Man kneeling on ground beside bucket
On photo: "H.M.F. scraping bedrock with a large spoon."
undated
1 7
Three men at work, one holding gold pan
On photo: "At work with a rocker."
ca. 1900
1 8
Mining operations on beach
On photo: "View of beach looking east from cemetery."
ca. 1900
1 9
Mining operations on beach
On photo: "View of beach looking west from cemetery."
ca. 1900
1 10
Sluicing operation with tents and crosses visible in background
On photo: "Hand mining, showing Nome Cemetery in the background."
ca. 1900
1 11
Mining operations on beach in Nome
On photo: "View of beach showing dredge and vessels."
ca. 1900
1 12
Mule pack train on beach
On photo: "Coming in for provisions."
ca. 1900
1 13
Looking out at surf
ca. 1900
1 14
Scow offshore, ready to unload freight on beach
On photo: "Bringing in a load on the surf."
ca. 1900
1 15
Men unloading lumber from scow on beach
On photo: "Unloading lumber, $1.00 per hour paid for men to work."
ca. 1900
1 16
View of beach with people and boats
On photo: "View of beach looking west from [Steam Whaling?] Co.'s derrick."
ca. 1900
1 17 ca. 1900
1 18
View of beach and waterfront with small boat
On photo: "Schooner washed up into city."
ca. 1900

Trip south from NomeReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
2 19
View of town and harbor from water
On photo: "A portion of Nome beach showing customs house and barrack in rear."
ca. 1900
2 20
View of town from the water
On photo: "Nome in the distance."
ca. 1900
2 21
View of Nome across water
On photo: "Our last glimpse of Nome, from S.S. Ohio."
undated
2 22
View of water with land mass in distance
On photo: "Cape Nome as it extends out into Bering Sea, taken from S.S. Ohio, 20 miles distant."
undated
2 23 undated
2 24 undated
2 25 undated

Seattle to MontanaReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Folder item
3 26
Steamship at wharf
On photo: "'The Flyer,' S.S. Ohio."
undated
3 27
Man with large dog on dock
undated
3 28
White Star Dock, Seattle
On photo: "Landing at Seattle."
undated
3 29
Steamship Rosecrans docked in Seattle
undated
3 30
Seattle docks from Railroad Avenue
undated
3 31
Yesler Mansion, Seattle
On photo: "Public Free Library at Seattle, Wash."
undated
3 32
Locomotive Chas D. Lane
undated
3 33
[Great Northern?] locomotive crossing bridge
On photo: "Going up the Cascades."
undated
3 34
[Great Northern?] locomotive in motion
On photo: "Entering [Tumwater?] Canyon, running at the rate of 76 miles per hour, train 8 hours late."
undated
3 35
Depot, Spokane, Washington [probably Great Northern Station]
undated
3 36
Steamboat and rowboat on water
On photo: "Hospital boat Lottie M in Snake River."
ca. 1900
3 37
Riverboat and machinery washed ashore
undated
3 38
[Great Northern?] locomotive in motion
On photo: "Double-teaming it up the Rockies, the entrance to the last tunnel."
undated
3 39
Mountain house on summit of Rockies
undated
3 40
Foothills in Montana
undated
3 41
Bluff formation, Montana
undated
3 42
View on Muddy Creek
undated
3 43
Near the headwaters of the Missouri River
undated
3 44
View of body of water from shore
On photo: "On the Missouri."
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Beaches--Alaska--Nome--Photographs
  • Gold miners--Alaska--Nome--Photographs
  • Gold mines and mining--Alaska--Nome--Photographs
  • Locomotives--Photographs
  • Steamboats--Photographs

Corporate Names

  • Great Northern Railway Company (U.S.)

Geographical Names

  • Montana--Photographs
  • Nome (Alaska)--Description and travel
  • Nome (Alaska)--Photographs
  • Washington (State)--Photographs

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)