Downtown Skagway

Downtown Skagway is located just 90 miles northeast of Juneau, and over 1 million visitors flock to the 464 square-mile town every year to see the historic past of Alaska firsthand. While modern-day Skagway is no longer one of Alaska’s biggest cities, it remains one of the most-popular cruise ship stops in Southeast of the state for its breathtaking views and key role in the Klondike Gold Rush.

Visiting Skagway

Whether you’re a history-buff that wants to get a firsthand glimpse of the infamous Dead Horse Trail or you want to explore untouched Alaskan wilderness, Skagway offers it all. With 100+ Gold Rush-era buildings in the historical district, anyone who visits enjoys a unique glimpse into Alaska’s past—and its future.

About Skagway

Marking the northernmost point of the Inside Passage, Skagway is a tourism-driven community at the head of the Taiya Inlet. Skagway first appeared on the census in 1900—the same year that it was incorporated as a city. At the time, it was the second-largest city in Alaska due to the influx of gold-seeking prospectors at the turn of the century.

While only about 1,000 residents live in Skagway year-round today, the population doubles in the busy summer months when tourists flood in to take in the sites of one of Alaska’s most historic locations.

White Pass & Yukon Route Railway

White Pass, also known as “Dead Horse Trail,” was treacherous, and it was decided to build a narrow railway through the pass to allow for prospectors to quickly reach the Klondike Gold Fields. The perilous construction of the railway completed in 1899. Today, tourists can take a scenic tour through White Pass from Skagway to travel the same route that adventurous prospectors braved in the days of the Gold Rush.

History of Skagway

The story of Skagway began when Captain William Moore led an 1887 boundary survey expedition and discovered White Pass—a passage through the Coast Mountains. He then settled in the area with his son, claiming 160-acres for his homestead. In 1896, headlines of “Gold! Gold! Gold!” swept the countryside as gold was discovered in the Klondike region.

Seemingly overnight, the population around Moore’s homestead exploded, reaching nearly 30,000 prospectors waiting to try their hand at crossing White Pass and discovering their fortune. By June 1898, Skagway was Alaska’s largest city, and the Moore homestead was overrun by prospectors staking a claim for land of their own.

Interesting Facts About Downtown Skagway

Modern-day Skagway is more than just a small Alaskan community—it’s a town rich with history, entertainment, and exciting opportunities for adventure. With its beautiful views and unique local culture, Skagway has been featured in major media and plenty of urban legends.

• Skagway is one of only three communities in Southeast Alaska that is connected to the road system.
• In an episode of Homeland Security, USA, Skagway’s border crossing was referred to as the “least-used” crossing in the country.
• The Skagway area was featured in Three Stooges, the 1946 film Road to Utopia starring Bing Crosby, in a Jack London short story, and in the computer game The Yukon Trail.
• Skagway is derived from sha-ka-ԍéi—literally translated to “beautiful woman”, and it refers to a Tlingit idiom that translates to “rough seas caused by strong north winds”.
• From 1897-1898, “Soapy” Smith ran Skagway as a con man with his private militia called the “Skaguay Military Company”, until he was killed at the famous Shootout on Juneau Wharf in 1898.
• Legend has it that the historic Golden North Hotel in Skagway is haunted by “Scary Mary”, a visitor to the hotel at the height of the Gold Rush who never checked out of her room.

Points of Interest

The rise and fall of Skagway are turning points in Alaska’s history, and tourists today get a trip to the turn of the century when arriving on the town’s beautiful shores. Whether you travel to Skagway by road or arrive on a cruise ship, there’s no better place in Southeast Alaska to get a true look at life in the age of the Gold Rush.