What to Expect
Ships dock at the Skagway terminal at the south end of Broadway, the main street of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park townsite. The historic district is compact: the Red Onion Saloon (1898 brothel, now a museum), the Mascot Saloon, and the restored storefronts of the park are all within a 10-minute walk of most berths. The White Pass and Yukon Route railway station (1898, restored) is at the north end of Broadway, 5 minutes from most piers; excursion trains to the White Pass summit (2,865 feet) run about 3 hours round trip, operate in all weather, and are the primary draw for most passengers. The Canadian border is 15 miles north on the South Klondike Highway — accessible by rental car or tour shuttle for those whose ships are in port long enough for a Yukon crossing.
Getting Around
The White Pass and Yukon Route railway: $135–145 round trip to the summit (White Pass, 2,865 feet, approximately 3 hours). The Klondike Highway (Alaska Route 98) runs north from Skagway to the Canadian border and on to Whitehorse, Yukon (180 km). Rental cars are available for driving the highway — the ascent parallels the original 1898 trail used by 100,000 gold-seekers. Dyea (12 km west) is the abandoned townsite at the foot of the Chilkoot Trail — accessible by taxi ($20 each way) and worth seeing for the contrast with Skagway's better-preserved townsite. Most of Skagway itself is walkable from any berth.
Tipping and Currency
USD. Standard 18–20% at restaurants. White Pass railway staff: $5–10 tip for the 3-hour trip is appreciated. Taxi drivers: 15%.
Culture and Historic Sites
The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (no admission fee) preserves the Broadway Street townsite, the railroad depot, and the approaches to the White Pass and Chilkoot Trails. The Mascot Saloon (National Park Service, free) is a restored 1898 saloon with original fixtures — one of the most complete such restorations in Alaska. The Days of '98 Show (staged melodrama running since 1927, $25) is campy but genuine local theater. The Arctic Brotherhood Hall on Broadway has a facade covered in 20,000 pieces of driftwood — the most photographed building on the street.
The Klondike Gold Rush
The Klondike Gold Rush of 1897–98 sent 100,000 men through Skagway and neighboring Dyea en route to the Klondike goldfields in the Canadian Yukon via two routes: the White Pass Trail (through Skagway) and the Chilkoot Trail (through Dyea). The Canadian Mounties required each prospector to bring a ton of supplies — a year's worth of food — before entering Canada; most men made 40+ trips to carry it over the pass. Soapy Smith, Skagway's legendary con man, ran a criminal empire in the town for two years before being shot by vigilantes in 1898. The National Historical Park's visitor center in the railroad depot gives the full story. The Trail of '98 Museum inside the Carnegie Library covers the social history.