Fourteen years ago today, I was at the original discovery site of the famous Klondike Gold Rush. Claim #1 on Bonanza Creek (originally Rabbit Creek) as filed by George Carmack, and neighboring claims filed for Skookum Jim and Tagish Charlie, Carmack's partners of the day and occasional in-laws. I spent the night and much of the next day upstream half a dozen claims at the junction of Bonanza Creek and El Dorado Gulch, which was the richest stretch of the entire region, and currently a public access panning site. This may well have been the greatest concentration of gold ever discovered in what is really a relatively small area geographically, at least within historical times.
The region is still being actively and successfully mined, with most of the gravels having been gone through at least three times, and many areas no less than half a dozen.
Fascinating place, with history and artifacts at every turn.
I'd go back in a heartbeat if only I could!!!
Bonanza Creek Claim #1
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Abandoned Artifacts along the way
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Abandoned Steam Engines in the area
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
The last big dredge now a museum piece
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Dredge Spoils at mouth of Bonanza Creek with Tailings Pile up the Hillside
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Yukon River Ferry from Dawson, just out of right side of photo
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
Beautiful place! Would love to visit too!!
Fascinating photos and history - thank you
Arnold
Loved seeing these pics and the old machinery but especially the dredge.
Jen and I have been followers of the Gold Rush TV series for many years and I couldn't get enough of Tony Beets(sp) restoration and him using a dredge and the history behind them.
Now there's a motherlode of history!
Thanks for posting!