Family Cruise to Alaska

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Thursday, 15 June 2006 - Arrived in Skagway one of Alaska's oldest Gold Rush towns. Took the historic White Pass railroad up the old mining route with spectacular mountain and waterfall views, then tried gold panning at Liarsville with a fun mix of history and scenery. Explored the town's quirky historic spots including the Red Onion Saloon and Arctic Brotherhood Hall, and finished the day cruising out through a narrow inlet with waterfalls and hanging glaciers.

Again we slept while the ship sailed to the next port, Skagway. Skagway is one of the oldest towns in Alaska and played a big part in the 1897-1898 gold rush. Over 70 saloons, frequent shootings and run by a gang of criminals, Skagway was a rough place.

alaska2006 — From the ship in dock were fantastic views of the mountains surrounding Skagway.

alaska2006 — We boarded a train on the White Pass Rail for a trip up the route the miners in 1898 took into Canada during the gold rush.

Civilization arrived in Skagway when the railroad began construction in 1898. By the time it was completed in 1900 the gold rush was over. The railroad was the main employer until 1982 when it closed. It was reopened as a tourist attraction and now is a major sightseeing attraction.

alaska2006 — Under the US custom house is an old sign from the 1930's painted by boys on trips to Alaska financed by George Buchanan, a Detroit coal merchant.

The train climbs from sea level to 3000 feet in 20 miles.

alaska2006 — An old bridge - no longer used - on the rail line. Some story about John Wayne wanting to blow it up for one of his movies. But the rail line would not allow.

alaska2006 — One of many water falls along the track.

alaska2006 — This is a portion of the old 1898 trail that still remains.

alaska2006 — Once we were done with the train ride we went to Liarsville for gold panning. This husky was providing an attraction for the children and pet lovers. Gold Rush trail camp recreated on the very spot where the original stood a century ago. Liarsville was named for the tenderfoot newsmen who camped here in the lush forest.

It was raining but Liz still panned for gold. Actually there was no gold in the area, it was several hundred miles into Canada. And the amount Liz found was very, very very small.

alaska2006 — An example of the fog which hung over most of the trip.

alaska2006 — When the rail line went all year around they needed a snow plow to move the snow drifts off the rails. This is the blade on the front of a snow plow engine.

alaska2006 — The Red Onion Saloon was a saloon, dance hall and bordello. It was built in 1898. It was moved to the current location but set backwards so the back door is on Broadway.

Scagway was a rough and tumble town while the minefields were open - only about 10 years. Now it caters to the cruise passengers.

alaska2006 — The Arctic Brotherhood Hall was a fraternal hall with the first meetings in 1899. The building is covered with over 8,800 driftwood sticks. An active hall for the Brotherhood until the 1920s it is now serves as a visitors center.

alaska2006 — Old lamp at Red Onion Saloon.

alaska2006 — The Red Onion houses a Brothel Museum upstairs and these two were on hand when a large tour bus pulled in. Or maybe they spotted a handsome photographer across the street?

alaska2006 — There were several of these little shacks which are hardly one bedroom large. Not sure how old they are but they were very cute little storefronts.

alaska2006 — The mountains above Skagway were covered with billboards and signs during the gold rush. Only one remains and is preserved. Kirmse's Curios is that billboard. You can see the sign high up on the mountain.

alaska2006 — A girl painted in window of a building on Main Street.

alaska2006 — Mary went on a walking tour featuring the "ladies of the evening" She was treated to stories of Klondike Kate, Oregon Mare, Pea Hull Annie and Diamond Lil depicting the adventurous, lusty, and often tragic lives of thousands of women who stampeded north.

This is the sumptuously dressed "madam" of the Red Onion Saloon, who guided the tour on a walk of Skagway which ended in the Red Onion Saloon.

alaska2006 — After being in Skagway for the day we pulled out and headed out to sea along an inlet. We were in a very narrow inlet and there were several of these waterfalls cascading down.

alaska2006 — Another waterfall.

alaska2006 — In the distance you can see a small boat which is a cruise liner as big as the 16 story building in which we were sailing. The Alaskan mountains dwarf everything.

alaska2006 — This is a hanging glacier because it does not come down to the water. Instead the ice drops from a height into the water. This happens when the feeder glacier does not flow as fast as the main glacier leaving the feeder glacier high when the main glacier retreats.

alaska2006 — Sunset was subdued by the clouds.

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