Skagway

White Pass & Yukon Railroad is here, travels over sky-high wooden trestles along the same route used by the Klondike gold stampeeders in the icy cold winter of 1897-98. On July 21st 1998 this famous railroad celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Within 3 months of the first gold strike, the settlement at Skagway grew from on cabin into a thriving city of more than 20,000 people. The gold rush stopped as quickly as it started, the hoards of prospectors which clambered to this little town of one cabin moved on leaving behind board walks, old store fronts saloons and hotels line the main street as reminders of a turbulent past.

Jefferson R. "Soapy" Smith, and Frank Reid, who represented the "outraged local citizenry", shot it out and lost their lives. This past July, descendents of these two outlaws were invited to town to tell the story of their heritage.

Things to do in Skagway:

Visit the gold rush cemetery, here you'll find old stone heads and some interesting epitaphs. And it's where Soapy Smith and Frank Reid now lay.

Tour Skagway in horse-drawn carriages

Call Skagway Hack: 907-983-2472

Walking downtown and cemetery tours guided and unguided, Hiking the Chilkoot Trail and White Pass... Call for trail conditions.

Call Skagway Convention Visitors Bureau

PO Box 415-AAA, Skagway, AK 99840

Phone: 907-983-2854

Skagway in the days of '98 with "Soapy Smith"

Excellent Alaska show, presented at the Eagles Hall. Stage show and gambling with bogus money. There is a Cancan line dance with songs popular in the gold rush days of '98

Gambling nightly at 7:30PM

Stage shows daily at 10, 2, 8:30 PM

Mid-May to late September

Prices: $10-14.00/person

Call: 907-983-2545

Trail of '98 Museum

Alaskan history of the Skagway, Native cultures including Tlingit (pron. Klink-it) war canoe, native artifacts, photographs, documents, and gold rush relics the gold rush. Stories of the White Pass & Yukon Train are found here.

Corner of 7th Ave and Spring St. at City Hall

Daily 9-5, May-September

Cost $2-3 dollars/person

Call 907-983-2420

White Pass & Yukon Route

This iron horse of a century past chugs its way on a 3-hour narrated tour on the rail line built in 1897-98 used to carry Klondike gold rush supplies and men. You will travel round trip in a period parlor car to the summit of White Pass. You'll pass granite gulches, cascading waterfalls and the most spectacular scenery you can imagine.

The narrator tells the story of the stampede north into the Alaska gold fields and some of the most rugged terrain in the US.

Ticket office open daily 8-5

Departs daily at 8:45, 1:15

Mid-May to Mid-September

Cost: $40-75.00/person

Call: 907-983-2217 or 800-343-7373

Found on the Chilkat Peninsula near the northern end of Lynn Canal between the waters of the Inside Passage and the Chilkat River. The Alaska Marine Highway links Haines with Prince Rupert, British Columbia, and Bellingham, WA. This also allows drivers to Alaska via the ALCAN to travel with car to Haines and link to the ALCAN at milepost 1016.

Things to do in Haines

Local drives around Haines:

Eagles

Eagles make Haines a temporary home in the nearby Chilkat Bald Eagle preserve, between Mileposts 9 and 31 on the Haines Highway. Here you will find one of the world's largest congregations of Eagles as they gather for a little fishing on the incoming salmon in the Chilkat River. At times upto 20 eagles will roost in a single tree.

Old Cannery and Salmon Boats

Lutak road to Chilkoot Lake and Mud Bay road leading to the Old Cannery with its picturesque salmon boats in this harbor area. Davidson and Rainbow glaciers can also be seen from Mud Bay road.

Southeast Alaska State Fair is in Mid-August runs 5 days

Haines Visitor Center

2nd and Willard Streets

PO Box 530

Haines, AK 99827

Call: 907-766-2234 or 800-458-3579

Open daily Mid-May to Mid-September and Mon.-Fri 8-5 Sept to Early-May.

Chilkat Guides Bald Eagle Preserve Float Trips

See views of the Chilkat Mountains and bald eagles in their natural habitat. This 4 hour float trip offers transportation to-from the river, bring camera/film (lots), sunglasses, and warm clothing/rain gear.

Departs daily May - September, times vary.

Reservations recommended

Cost $35-75.00/person

PO Box 170 Haines, AK 99827

Call: 907-766-2491

Chilkoot Lake Tours

Sightseeing and fishing cruises of Chilkoot lake.

You'll see brown bears, eagles, & spawning salmon (seasonal)

Allow for a 3-hour cruise

May 1-Sept 15th

Departs daily at 9AM, 2PM

Cost: Sightseeing $40.00, Fishing $50.00

1183 Haines Hwy

Call 907-766-2491

Fort William H. Seward

The first permanent Army post in Alaska, its old hospital accommodates terrific Alaskan artists and carvers working their trade. Here you will find treasures of Alaskan art you'll never see again. Look for totems, dance masks and more. You will see a tribal house, trapper's cabin and caches (house on stilts to store our food safely from bears).

Walking tour maps of Fort Seward are found at the Visitor info center

Fort opens Mon.-Fri 9AM-Noon, and 1-5PM from April to November

Call: 907-766-2000 or 800-542-6363

Chilkat Indian Dances

See traditional elaborate Alaskan Indian dances in full dress at the Chilkat Center for the Arts.

Shows at: 8PM Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday only June 1-Labor Day Weekend

Cost: $5-10/person

Call: 907-766-2160

Lust for Dust Comedy about the settlements early days

This not to miss performance can be seen at the Centers for the Arts.

Shows at: 8PM Friday and Sunday only

Cost: $5-10/person

Call: 907-766-2366

Sheldon Museum and Cultural center

On Main St. near the boat harbor (take pics of the boat harbor, very nice)

Here you will find artifacts of Tlingit Indian cultures, early Alaskan and Haines long ago past.

Takes 90 minutes to visit the museum and see the video about eagles.

Open daily 1-5 Late May to Mid-September

Cost: $3/person

Call: 907-766-2366

This most unusual city is 5 miles long, four blocks wide and two blocks up Deer Mountain. The residents of Ketchikan will tell you it's the southernmost Alaskan City. Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world, found on Revillagigedo Island, separated from the mainland by Behm Canal. Ketchikan has an average annual rainfall of 156 - 162 inches awards this city the wettest city in North America.

Ketchikan is well known for its totem poles, tall cedar logs carved with eagles, ravens, wolves, bears, whales, and other figures. The totem poles tell stories, designate clans or lineage.

Creek Street is a relic of Ketchikan's rough and tumble past. A once thriving red light district this street is built on stilts along a stream, a spawning ground for salmon.

Ketchikan highlights include art galleries, shops, and a museum.

Festivals include:

Festival of the North in February

Salmon Derby late May to early June

Blueberry Festival with arts/crafts the second Saturday in August

How to see Ketchikan

Seeing Ketchikan is by boat, air, and walking tours along Ketchikan's streets and docks provide a colorful picture of the city's history.

Maps for a 2 hour self guided tour are found at the Ketchikan info center.

Ketchikan info Center

Downtown dock at 131 Front St.

Ketchikan, AK 99901

Call: 800-770-2200

Deer Mountain Fish Hatchery

1158 Salmon Rd. across the bridge from the Totem Heritage Center raises King and Silver salmon, and steelhead and rainbow trout.

30 minutes for tour

1/2 mi NE at 1158 Salmon Rd.

Tour daily from 8-4:30

Cost: FREE

Call: 907-225-6760

Saxman Native Village

Tlingit Indian Village of 350 residents. The Totem Park has 26 totems to view, see master totem carvers at work in the carving center. Enjoy the Beaver Tribal House, and the Old School House. The Cape Fox dancers await you with a traditional Tlingit dance.

Guided tours available.

Allow 30 minutes

Daily 8-5, mid May to September 30th

Cost: $FREE

Guided tour: $40.00

Call: 907-225-5163

2 1/2 mi So on So. Tongass Hwy

Tongass Historical Museum

Displays of artifacts of the SE Alaskan tribes pioneer artifacts and works of art. A research library is also housed here in the museum

Allow 30 minutes

Monday - Saturday 8:30-5:00PM, Sun 1-5 June-Sept; Wed-Sun 1-5 rest of year.

Open when the cruise ships are in port.

629 Dock St.

Ketchikan Centennial Bldg.

Ketchikan, AK

Totem Bight State Historic Park

Here you will see over a dozen totems, a Tlingit community house and more.

Reached by a short trail from a parking area, it's a great Alaskan Experience

Daily 6AM-10PM

Allow 30 minutes

Cost: Donations

Call: 907-247-8574

10 mi North on North Tongass Hwy.

Totem Heritage Center

See totem poles and conducts workshops emphasizing traditional Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian art works.

Open: Mon-Sat 8-5, Sun 9-5, mid-May to Sept 30th

Cost: $2.00

Call: 907-225-5900

601 Deermount St.

Ketchikan, AK

Alaska's Capital City, found along the Gastineau Channel at the foot of the snowcapped mounts Roberts and Juneau. Air or boat can reach this city.

Joe Juneau and Richard Harris discovered gold in Alaska in 1880 they started the first Gold rush in American Alaska.

Walking, boat and charter tour flights are available to tour this great city with its oldest churches in SouthEast Alaska, scenic mountains, and glaciers.

Self Guided Tours

Convention and Visitors Bureau

134 3rd St.

Juneau, AK 9980

Call: 907-586-2201

Recorded info of events: 907-586-JUNO

Walking maps are found at:

Davis Log Cabin

134 Seward St.

Juneau, AK 99801

Open Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat-Sun 9-5 May-Sept and Mon-Fri 8-5 rest of year.

Alaska State Museum

1/2 block west of Egan Dr. at 395 Whittier St.

Learn about the state's history, preserves and exhibits of Indian, Athabascan, Eskimo and Aleut cultures.

See a bald eagle nesting tree, and Alaskan totem poles.

60 minute tour

Cost: $3.00/person

Open Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat-Sun 10-6

Call: 907-465-2901

ERA Helicopter Flightseeing tours

Departs daily from the North Douglas Heliport. This narrated 1 hour tour will give you breath-taking views of the capital city, abandoned mines and four glaciers in the Juneau icefield. You will land on a glacier to explore blue ice caves, see wildlife in the Gold Fork and Carlson Creek valleys.

Allow 90 minutes for free ride to heliport and tour.

Daily at 7AM and 8PM

Mid-May to late September; Mon-Fri 8-5 rest of year

Call: 800-843-1947 or 907-586-2030 (in Alaska)

Gastineau Salmon Hatchery

Here more than 160 million salmon eggs annually hatch for salmon including chum, pink, coho, and king. See the many exhibits such as the saltwater aquarium with live salmon and more than 100 species of southeast Alaska Sea life. Guided tours are available.

Allow for 1-hour minimum

Sun-Fri and holidays 10-6PM, Sat Noon-5PM mid May to Mid October; Sat-Sun Noon to 5PM rest of year.

26197 Channel Dr. Juneau, AK

Cost: $2.50

Call: 907-465-5114

House of Wickersham

Was the residence of the noted Judge James Wickersham, an Alaskan Statesman, historian, and pioneer judge. This large Victorian mansion was built 1898-99 on a high hill and used as a landmark by early sea captains sailing into Juneau. You will see rare Russian and Alaskan artifacts, carvings, photos, original furnishings and historic documents.

Open Mon-Sat, Noon-5PM May-Sept

Cost: $2.00

Call: 907-465-4563

213 7th St.

Juneau, AK

Juneau Douglas Museum

Focus is on the history of Juneau, cities old life and gold mining past. Welcome back to the past room provides for hands on experiences with artifacts and equipment of years gone by. A large relief map and presentations bring the old days of Juneau back.

Open Mon-Fri 9-5PM, Sat-Sun 11AM-5PM May 15th to Sept 15th

Cost: $2.00/person

Call: 907-586-3572

4th and Main streets

Lady Lou Revue

Musical based on Robert Service's poetry of Alaska. This revue features popular fictional characters such as Dan McGrew and Sam McGee.

Shows: Mid-May to Late Sept.

Show times: varies

Cost: $8.00-16.00/person

Call: 907-586-3686

Wharf Mall at Egan Dr. and Main Street

Mendenhall Glacier

Just a short 7-mi. drive along state route 7 and the Mendenhall Loop road you will find the impressive Mendenhall glacier's river of blue ice. Its 12 mile long and 1 1/2 mile wide, 1500 sq. mile expanse will leave you breathless, bring your camera and lots of film (dress warm too). A nature trail awaits you with lots of information about the area.

Visitor Center of Mendenhall glacier provides terrific views of the glacier; interpretive talks, films and walks are offered daily.

Daily 8:30AM-5: 30PM Mid-May to Mid-Sept., Sat-Sun 9-4 rest of year.

Call: 907-789-0097

Mendenhall Glacier Transportation Ltd.

Take this tour right from the cruise ship dock downtown, leaving by bus you will see Juneau, University of Alaska and Mendenhall Glacier.

2 hour tour

Daily 9AM-3: 30PM May 15th-Sept. 30th

Cost: $15.00/person

Call: 907-789-5460

Surrounded by tall peaks and small wooded islands, Sitka can be reached by air or the Alaska Marine Hwy. In 1804 Russians led by Alexander Baronov established a settlement of the site of an ancient Tlingit village, this settlement later became the capital of Russia America. The capital was named New Archangel, and was a busy port of over 3,000 when San Francisco was just a mission village. Castle hill marks the site of Baranov's headquarters and commemorates the 1867 ceremony, which transferred ownership of Alaska from Russia to the United States.

Festivities in Sitka

Sitka Salmon Derby, Memorial weekend and the 1^st weekend in June

Sitka Summer Music Festival, Chamber music concerts given on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday in June

All Alaska Logging Championships, last weekend in June

Alaska Day, mid October

Sitka Visitors Convention Bureau

Dept. A, Box 1226,

Sitka, AK 99835

Call: 907-747-5940

Isabel Miller Museum

In the Centennial building, see Sitka's history and displays from Russian-American era and the areas fishing and timber industries.

Allow 30 minutes

Daily 9-5, mid-May to late September; 10-Noon and 1-4 rest of the year

Cost: Donations

Call: 907-747-6455

St. Michael's Cathedral

Lincoln Street, here you will find an extensive collection of Russian Orthodox art, including antique icons, enameled porcelain, wedding crowns, and elaborate vestments. Look for the onion shaped dome, it’s a landmark in Sitka.

Allow 30 minutes

Open: hours vary

Cost: $1.00

Call: 907-747-8120

Sheldon Jackson Museum

Allow 30 minutes

Daily 8-5PM, mid May to mid September; Tuesday-Saturday 10-4PM rest of the year

Cost: $2.00, Students and children are Free

Sitka National Historical Park

107-acre park consists of a fort site 1 mile east of Sitka, and the Russian Bishop's home on Lincoln Street near Crescent Harbor. The Russian Bishop's house is one of the last remaining structures in North America, restored to its 1853 appearance the building reflects the influence of the Russian Orthodox Church and the traders of the Russian-American Co. you will find original furnishings, clothing, and utensils and art work from the era.

The fort was the site of the Battle of Sitka, fought in 1804 between the Kiksadi Tlingit Indians and the fur hunters and Aleut natives of the Russian-American Co. the battle marked the last major resistance by Alaskan natives to European domination.

The park is well known for its fine collection of 28 Tlingit and Haida totem poles, some of which are more than a century old. The visitor center has a presentation and exhibits about the area's history and culture. In the Southeast Alaskan Indian Cultural Center in the visitor center, skilled native artisans demonstrate traditional crafts for all to see.

Open daily 6-10PM June to September; 8-8 rest of the year

Write to: Superintendent

Sitka National Historical Park, PO Box 738

Sitka, AK 99835

Call: 907-747-6281