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.
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.
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.
Open to the public.
Restrictions may exist on reproduction, quotation, or publication. Contact Special Collections, University of Washington Libraries for details.
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
Processed by Shannon B. Lynch, 2003.
On photo: "A group of miners. Knute with his hands in his pockets."
On photo: "H.M.F. scraping bedrock with a large spoon."
On photo: "At work with a rocker."
On photo: "View of beach looking east from cemetery."
On photo: "View of beach looking west from cemetery."
On photo: "Hand mining, showing Nome Cemetery in the background."
On photo: "View of beach showing dredge and vessels."
On photo: "Coming in for provisions."
On photo: "Bringing in a load on the surf."
On photo: "Unloading lumber, $1.00 per hour paid for men to work."
On photo: "View of beach looking west from [Steam Whaling?] Co.'s derrick."
On photo: "Schooner washed up into city."
On photo: "A portion of Nome beach showing customs house and barrack in rear."
On photo: "Nome in the distance."
On photo: "Our last glimpse of Nome, from
On photo: "Cape Nome as it extends out into Bering Sea, taken
from
See also
Steamship
On photo: "'The Flyer,'
On photo: "Landing at Seattle."
On photo: "Public Free Library at Seattle, Wash."
On photo: "Going up the Cascades."
On photo: "Entering [Tumwater?] Canyon, running at the rate of 76 miles per hour, train 8 hours late."
On photo: "Hospital boat
On photo: "Double-teaming it up the Rockies, the entrance to the last tunnel."
On photo: "On the Missouri."