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Skagway - Friday, July 17
Skagway is the northern most city on the Inland Passage. The
city has a population of about 900, but that is about double during the
summer tourist season. There are over 900,000 visitors each year.
The city has a rich mining past, being the major jump-off point
for the 100,000 prospectors who headed to the Yukon to strike it rich.
With many cruise ships stopping there, tourism is
currently the major industry. A popular attraction is the White
Pass and Yukon route narrow gauge railroad, which we have tickets for,
and will be riding this morning.
Skagway is a major setting for Jack London's book, "The Call of the Wild".
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As we docked in Skagway, the White Pass and Yukon Railroad train was waiting for us just steps from the ship.
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A view from inside our car on the train.
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We could see both the front and the rear ends of the train on curves. |
Here we see the back of the train as it passes over one of the many trestles.
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The scenery from the train was spectacular!
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We have a brief view of the ocean harbor.
Our ship is docked along the far side of the water we can see
here, although at this distance you cannot make out the ship.
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We are passing a trestle that was abandoned several years ago.
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Our ride took us slightly into Canada.
The flags denote the border and the NWMP shack is where the
Northwest Mounted Police used to guard the border - and probably still
do.
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Nearing town we again see the Gold Rush Cemetery. Many of the early prospectors are buried here.
This
is also where the infamous outlaw Soapy Smith is buried. He was a
con artist and gangster who had a major hand in the organized criminal
activity in Skagway (as well as in Colorado) in the late 19th century.
A
local city engineer, Frank Reid decided he had had enough of Smiths
crimes and challenged him to a duel. He killed Smith, but also
received mortal injuries and died a few days later. Both are
burried here. Smith has only a small tombstone, but Reid has a
large monument praising his bravery.
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| The rail yard contains this antique
locomotive. It appears to need a little tender loving care, or at
least a shot of WD-40! |
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Downtown Skagway is very picturesque. |
The Red Onion Saloon was one of the "finest
bordellos in Skagway", and is now a National Historic Building.
It opened for business in 1898.
The building was moved
in 1914 using one horse. Unfortunately it was dragged into its
present position backwards and the front and back sides of the building
had to be removed and exchanged.
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We went into the Red Onion for lunch, but did not find anything we liked on the menu, so we left. |
One of the local shops displays a number of totem poles.
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Walking around town, we passed this railroad track snow clearing machine.
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| When we returned to the ship, this ensemble was playing in the Atrium. |
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As the ship was leaving port, we saw this fantastic view. |
| There were many, many waterfalls along the shores. This was a particularly beautiful one. |
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