Frequently Asked Questions

Most of the questions visitors ask about Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park fall into three categories.

History Size Location

 

History

1. When was the park established?
President Gerald Ford signed Public Law 94-323 on June 30, 1976 creating Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. The park was established as a single unit with sites in the states of Washington and Alaska.

 

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Location

1. Why was the Seattle site moved into the former Cadillac Hotel?
The Cadillac Hotel building was built shortly after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 and was in existence during the Klondike Gold Rush period. Our former building on Main Street was not built until after the gold rush. When that building was first leased in 1979 it was to be a temporary home until a more historically significant building could be purchased.

 

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Size

1. How large is the park?
Because Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park has several sites in two states the park unit area designation is often misleading. Many people believe that the Seattle site is the smallest National Park Service unit. Actually, it is not. It is a congressionally recognized area of some 13,192 acres, mostly in Alaska.