Dawson City, Yukon, Canada

Dawson City is famous as the "gateway to the Yukon".  Back in 1898, this was the place to be if you were after gold in the Yukon.  However, to an old time radio fan like me, it is even more famous as the headquarters for Sergeant Preston of the Mounties.  He and his dog, King, (mostly King) caught all the bad men in the territory. 

 

 

 

The town looks much the same as it probably did in the old days except for the cars and the tour bus.  One of the two streets is now paved but only because it is the main highway in this part of the province.  (Actually, it is the only highway in this part of the province.)  However, even in the old days, everything was up to date.

 

 

 

 

 

It had, and still has, a department store.  The testimonial on the front of the store is just as true now as it was then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was the Palace Grand Theatre.  It was built in 1899.  It featured vaudeville, comedy and melodrama; all on the same bill.  There were dancing girls from midnight until breakfast at a dollar a dance.  Drinking and gambling were available the whole time.  The owner came to Dawson City for the same reason as everyone else.  The only difference was that he mined gold from the pockets of the miners instead of a hole in the ground.

 

 

 

 

For the less affluent, there was Diamond Tooth Gerties Saloon.  Her entertainment might be less acceptable today but was very popular then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For those who needed a home away from home, there was the Westminster Hotel.  No doubt it carried a four star rating then as it does today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the outskirts of Dawson City is the ferry across the Yukon River.  We were lucky and only had to wait about 15 minutes.  Sometimes the wait is several hours.  Once across the Yukon you are on a road called The Top of the World Highway.  The term "Highway" is something of a misnomer.  Only the first mile is paved.  The rest is clay, gravel and potholes.  From Dawson City to Chicken, Alaska is probably the longest 109 miles on the trip.