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tried to establish himself as a solid citizen,
contributing to the building of Skagway’s first
church and founding an “Adopt a Dog” program.
When Soapy’s gang robbed a man of his gold dust,
tempers flared and events culminated in a final
showdown. The audience witnesses this historic
moment and the conclusion to the story, keeping
Skagway’s colorful history alive. The Days of ‘98
Show features can-can dancing, ragtime music and
Robert Service poetry.
Visitors can see The Days of 98 Show in the
beautifully restored Eagles Hall, located at 6th and
Broadway in downtown Skagway, with multiple
shows daily. Phone (907) 983-2545 or visit www.
thedaysof98show.com for additional information.
White Pass & Yukon Route
“Scenic Railway of the World”
The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad, a
narrow gauge rail line, offers several different
scenic train excursions from Skagway along the
first 67.5 miles of the original 110-mile route that
once connected Skagway, Alaska with Whitehorse,
Yukon Territory. The journey traces the historic
“Trail of ’98” which led thousands of gold-seekers
from the staging grounds at Skagway to the gold
fields of the Klondike in Canada’s Yukon Territory.
Today the railway provides passenger service in
comfortable restored and replica coaches pulled
by diesel-electric locomotives through the coastal
mountains between Skagway and Carcross, YT,
along Lake Bennett in British Columbia.
Construction of the WP&YR began in 1898
during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush and
was completed only 26 months later in July 1900.
Considered at the time to be one of the greatest feats
See Video of modern history, the $10 million project involved
450 tons of explosives and tens of thousands of
men laboring in harsh and challenging conditions
to construct this breathtaking engineering model.
In l994, the railway was designated an International
Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, a designation
shared with the Panama Canal, Eiffel Tower, and
Days of ‘98 Show
Statue of Liberty.
One of the Railroad’s most popular excursions is
The scenic route between Whitehorse and Skagway available, and past the ruins of the Venus Mine on a three-hour, forty-mile round trip from sea level up
is served by both motor coach and rail. A ticket Windy Arm of Tagish Lake. to the 2865 foot summit of White Pass, considered
on the historic White Pass and Yukon Route Near the summit of the Klondike Highway one of the world’s most spectacular train rides,
Railroad includes bus service between Whitehorse Pass you’ll encounter a scene that resembles a with steep grades and cliff-hanging turns. The fully
and Fraser, British Columbia via the Klondike moonscape more than any earthly vista. Ancient, narrated tour features two tunnels, sky-high trestles
Highway. At Fraser you’ll board the narrow-gauge twisted trees cling to rocks polished smooth by and bridges, historic sites and spectacular scenery
railroad for the rest of your journey to Skagway. prehistoric glaciers, or crumbled by years of affording panoramic views of glaciers, gorges and
This is a spectacular trip over White Pass and the erosion. Waterfalls, glaciers, and glimpses of the cascading waterfalls. The steel cantilever bridge
famous Trail of ’98 Gold Rush route. White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad and White was the tallest of its kind in the world when it was
By Sea Pass Trail are among the highlights of the drive constructed in 1901.
Skagway is a popular port on the Alaska Marine from the summit to seaside Skagway. White Pass & Yukon Route evolved into a
Highway System. A fleet of modern, car-carrying The Days of ’98 Show celebrates 100 years in fully integrated transportation company operating
vessels serves all of Southeast Alaska. Northbound 2023! Presented by Goldrush Productions docks, trains, stage coaches, sleighs, buses, paddle
travelers can access the system at Bellingham, When Princess streamships made their town a wheelers, trucks, ships, airplanes, hotels and
Washington and Prince Rupert, British Columbia; port of call in 1923, the people of Skagway created pipelines, ultimately pioneering the innovative
southbound travelers usually embark at Haines a Vaudevillian musical show for the tourists, in inter-modal (ship-train-truck) movement of
or Skagway. Some vessels have an observation hopes of raising money for their local hockey team containers. The company suspended operations in
lounge, bar, cafeteria and solarium where camping to compete against Whitehorse. The Days of ‘98 1982 when Yukon’s mining industry collapsed due
is allowed free of charge. Mainline vessels also Show with Soapy Smith was an instant hit, drawing to low mineral prices. The railway was reopened
feature stateroom accommodations. on real historical records to portray the last day of in 1988 as a seasonal tourism operation and today
By Land this terrorizing outlaw’s life on July 8, l898. carries over 380,000 passengers during the May to
If you are traveling by car or RV, you’ll join the Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith was born September tourism season.
growing number of visitors who travel the Alaska in Georgia in l861 and ventured west as a young Come discover your own personal gold rush
Highway each year. Skagway is only 110 miles man. He learned his trade as a con man during the with the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway as it
south from the Alaska Highway, via the South silver and gold rushes of Colorado and eventually steams through its second century of history. For
Klondike Highway. The lakes of the Yukon and made it to Skagway in the fall of 1897. Skagway at detailed information, visit their website at www.
British Columbia that you’ll pass along the way that time was described by Canadian Mountie Sam wpyr.com; phone: 1-800-343-7373.
are the headwaters of the great Yukon River. This Steele as “a little better than hell on earth!” The Red Onion Saloon
modern two-lane highway is an easy drive and Soapy formed a gang and reigned supreme for Now a National Historic Building, the Red
passes through the historic community of Carcross, nine months as Alaska’s most notorious outlaw. Onion Saloon was Skagway’s most exclusive
with hotel, gas, food, and other visitor services While his men did most of the dirty work, Soapy bordello. Built in 1897 with planks cut by the

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