Park Museums

Exhibits in the Visitor Center Museum give visitors an overview of the Klondike Gold Rush.

NPS photo/A. Lattka

In Skagway, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is made up of over 20 historical buildings. Today, four of them are museums that are open to the public. Each museum shares a different aspect of gold rush life from saloons to families to tourism. Additionally, the Skagway Museum is run by the City of Skagway and covers town history from gold rush to present day.

 

NPS photo/C. Beale

Visitor Center Museum

Location: 2nd and Broadway, next to the National Park Service Visitor Center
Learn more: hours of operation, building history, virtual tour

Trace the gold rush from the beginning, choose your route through the gold fields, and find out how you fare. This recently rennovated museum includes accessible, interactive exhibits. Smell, see, hear, and feel aspects of the gold rush adventure. The exhibits include artifacts from the park's collection, video clips, maps, photographs, and dioramas. This is a good place to spend time between activities in Skagway, or to dive into the history and learning more.

 

NPS photo/S. Muether

Moore House Museum

Location: 5th Ave and Spring Street
Learn more: hours of operation, building history, virtual tour

Built over the course of several years starting in 1897, this was the home of the first family to live in Skagway. Today two rooms have been restored to their Victorian era charm. Other rooms feature exhibits about the family, life in this frontier town, the interracial marriage between Ben Moore and Klinget-sai-yet, and the restoration of the building. This museum is staffed by a park ranger and often a quiet, less visited park location. During the summer months you can enjoy the spacious yard and shaded seating area.

 

Mannequin standing at old fashioned saloon bar

NPS photo/S. Ammons

Jeff. Smiths Parlor Museum

Location: 2nd Ave, second building from the corner of 2nd Ave and Broadway
Learn more: hours of operation, building history, virtual tour

Once the headquarters for notorious outlaw, Jefferson "Soapy" Smith, this former bar was transformed into a home-spun museum in 1935 with rare photos, one of a kind artifacts, folk art, strange taxidermy, and even animatronic mannequins. For many decades this museum was a critical part of Skagway's tourism. Today it has been restored to its 1960s glory. Free, limited, timed-entry tickets are available at the park visitor center on the day of your visit.

 

The interior of the Mascot Saloon during exhibit upgrade.

NPS photo/S. Ammons

Mascot Saloon Museum

Location: Broadway and 3rd Ave
Hours: 9 AM- 4:30 PM
Learn more: hours of operation, building history

Once the longest running gold rush era saloon, the business shut down when the town outlawed alcohol in 1916. Step back in time and see the restored saloon for one of the best photo opportunities in the park. Learn about vice in Skagway, community characters, town changes, and restoration of this building.

 

Exhibits at the Visitor Center Museum allow visitors to trace the Chilkoot and White Pass trails.

NPS photo/S. Ammons