flashback buttonThe LIFE of Lee and Karen Duquette
before becoming the Two RV Gypsies
time running backwards
star bar

Gold-panning and the White Pass Railroad
in Skagway, Alaska - May 27, 2004

Skagway signSkagway location map

Skagway was incorporated as a borough in Alaska on the Alaska Panhandle on June 25, 2007. It was previously a city in the Skagway-Yakatut-Angoon Census area which later became the Hoonah-Anbgoon Census Area, Alaska. The population of Skagway doubles in the summer tourist season in order to deal with more than 1,000,000 visitors each year because it is a popular stop for cruise ships.  Skagway can also be reached via the Alaska Marine Highway ferry system.

The name Skagway is derived from sha-ka-gei, a Tlingit idiom which figuratively refers to the rough seas in the Taiya Inlet, which are caused by strong north winds.

Skagway mural
downtown Skagway horse and buggy in Skagway
inside a store signs on a rock face

Klondike Gold Dredge

Klondike Gold Dredge announcer

In 1999, The Klondike Gold Fields moved and restored a 1937 Gold Dredge from its working claim in the Klondike Gold Fields of the Yukon. The Dredge is a 350 ton gold sifting machine brought back from the Klondike and reconstructed piece by piece on the shores of the Skagway River.

Short videos and audio presentations let them view the people and places affected by the Gold Dredge during its 60 years of operation plus tour the living museum on the shores of the Skagway River and discover how the Klondike Gold Dredge unearthed over 8 million dollars in gold form the Klondike Gold Fields.

Karen and Lee Duquette enjoyed seeing images of the Dredge in action while hearing the voices of hardy old-timers who toiled under the Midnight Sun for the tons of recovered Gold.

Klondike Gold Dredge Klondike Gold Dredge
Klondike Gold Dredge

Below: In addition to the Dredge, Karen and Lee Duquette enjoyed a funny, informative gold panning demonstration from a friendly sourdough character.

Klondike Gold Dredge

Then everyone tried to pan gold in warm water gold troughs, and any gold found was weighed in the Gold Shack.

Below: Sandy panning for gold

Weighing the gold

Sandy panning for gold Weighing the gold

Karen and Lee Duquette experienced The White Pass Summit excursion

Originally built in 1898 for the stampeders headed for the Klondike gold fields, the White Pass and Yukon Railroad is part of the area's mining past. It is now in operation purely for the tourist trade and runs throughout the summer months for a 1-hour and 45-minute train ride.

White-Pass Railway White-Pass Railway
White-Pass Railway scenery White-Pass Railway scenery
White-Pass Railway scenery White-Pass Railway scenery
going into a tunnel White-Pass Railway scenery
White-Pass Railway scenery White-Pass Railway scenery
White-Pass Railway scenery

Below: At the top of the steep climb at 2,888 feet is White Pass, which is also the international boundary between the United States and Canada.

flags White-Pass Railway sign

Below: Time to go back to the ship - The Norwegian Sun

he Norwegian Sun cuise ship view from The Norwegian Sun cruise ship
look below

Continue on to Haines Alaska and a boat ride to Chilkat Eagle Wildlife Preserve

OR

back button Return to 2004 The Norwegian Sun and Alaska cruise menu to view sections in the order of your choice.