Klondyke Album: Dyea and Skagway Trails photograph album, 1897-1898

Overview of the Collection

Title
Klondyke Album: Dyea and Skagway Trails photograph album
Dates
1897-1898 (inclusive)
Quantity
17 photographic prints (1 folder) ; various sizes
Collection Number
PH0397
Summary
Album of a trip to the Klondike Gold Fields, depicting the White Pass Trail (Skagway Trail) and the Chilkoot Trail (Dyea Trail), 1897-1898
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

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries’ Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials Curator required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Languages
English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

Over 100,000 "stampeders" set out for the gold fields of the Yukon River and its tributaries in Canada and Alaska between 1897 and 1898, seeing them as a promising opportunity in what had been a bleak decade (Panic of 1893). The first major Klondike gold discovery occurrred on August 16, 1896. The most popular routes were through Dyea and over the Chilkoot Pass or through Skagway and over the White Pass. Neither route was easy; during the winter months, heavy snow and ice made the trip dangerous and difficult, in the fall and spring, travelers had to contend with thick, unending mud, and in the summer, travelers had to pick their way along trails littered with sharp, jagged rocks.

Conditions on White Pass were dreadful. The route was narrow, steep, slick and overcrowded. The 26-mile trail over Chilkoot Pass was steep and hazardous. Most stampeders who gave up did so attempting to cross the summit. The fortune seekers were required by the Northwest Mounted Police to bring a year's supplies with them because of the inclement weather and because adequate posts were far between. To move one outfit (a year's supplies) over the pass, stampeders packed and cached their goods, "walking 80 miles for every single mile they moved their provisions." On the Dyea Trail, many hikers took three months to move their goods to the summit. Stampeders who could pay high fees relied on Chilkat, Chilkoot and Stikine Indian packers. Stampeders short of funds also worked as packers.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photograph album of a trip to Lake Bennett in the Klondike Gold Fields with captions in pencil. Black and white photographs depict the White Pass Trail (Skagway Trail) and the Chilkoot Trail (Dyea Trail). 1897-1898.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

The album may have been a sample album made by the photographer to show his work. The inside page has the text "booklets containing these views".

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection .

Restrictions on Use

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

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Processing Note

Processed by Sara Martinez and Alicia Reuter, 2009; Processed by Erin Mettling, 2010.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Photograph album, 1897-1898Return to Top

Some album pages were left blank by the creator and are not included in the inventory.

Container(s) Description Dates
Title: Booklets Containing These Views
1897-1898
item
1 1897-1898
2
View of bridge in front of Finnegan's Point
Caption on page: 5 miles from Skagway.
1897-1898
3
Men walking along stone path
Caption on page: 8 miles from Dyea.
1897-1898
4
Men walking along stone path
Caption on page: 1 mile to Canyon City.
1897-1898
5
View of Canyon City
Caption on page reads: At entrance to Canyon Chilcoot Trail.
1897-1898
6 1897-1898
7 1897-1898
8 1897-1898
Page with missing photo
Caption on page: In canyon - at same place, 1897.
1897
item
9
View of Stone House, camp on trail
Caption on page: 1-1/2 Miles above Sheep Camp.
1897-1898
10
View of O.I. powerhouse at the Great Snowslide
Numerous slides occured on April 3, 1898 between Sheep Camp and the Scales on the Chilkoot Trail. About 65 people died.
1897-1898
11
Men at Snowslide
Caption on page: Near the ford, Skagway Trail.
1897-1898
12 1897-1898
13
Men and horses climbing snow-covered trail
Caption on page: One mile to summit, Skagway Trail.
1897-1898
14
Campground at the Scales
Caption on page: The Scales of Summitt.
1897-1898
15 1897-1898
16 1897-1898
17 1897-1898

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Form or Genre Terms

  • Photographic prints

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)