Arthur C. Pillsbury Collection
See photographs of the Klondike Gold Rush, California, Oregon and Washington taken by Arthur C. Pillsbury (1870-1946) between about 1896 and 1900.
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Men on Homan River rapids, ca. 1899
Although the caption for the photo identifies it as "Homer River" it is likely Homan River which flows between Homan Lake and Bennett Lake in British Columbia. One man stands on a log on the lower left and a second stands further upriver.
Identifier: spl_ap_00132
Date: 1899
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Boat in Taku Inlet between Wyndon and Taku Glaciers, ca. 1899
The original Tlingit name for Foster Glacier was Taku Glacier. It was also known as Schulze Glacier in the 1880s and Foster Glacier in the 1890s before reverting to its first name. No mention of the Wyndon Glacier was found in historical or current resources.
Identifier: spl_ap_00064
Date: 1899
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Martinez seizes Colnett's ship
Parker McAllister, born in 1903 in Massachusetts, was a Seattle Times artist from 1924 to 1965. McAllister started his career as an illustrator at 14 for a Spokane publication; he joined the art staff at the Seattle Times in 1920. His first Sunday magazine cover was a poster-type illustration celebrating the University of Washington crew races in spring 1924. During McAllister's career, he created illustrations depicting “local color” events and situations now routinely handled by photographers. As the technology improved, he expanded his repertoire - he illustrated articles, drew covers for special sections and the weekly Seattle Sunday Times Magazine, and drew diagrams, comics, cartoons, and portraits for the Times’ editorial page. In 1956, an exhibition of his watercolor and oil paintings of Pacific Northwest scenes and historical incidents - including some paintings from the “Discovery of the Pacific Northwest” series - were exhibited at the Washington State Historical Society Museum in Tacoma. He was also a member of the Puget Sound Group of Men Painters. McAllister retired from the Seattle Times in 1965; he passed away in Arizona in 1970.
Identifier: spl_art_291985_16.149
Date: 1955
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Juneau and the Gastineau Channel looking SW, ca. 1899
In 1880, gold was discovered at Silver Bow Basin by Richard Harris and Joe Juneau. The gold discovery led to the development of the nearby town of Juneau.
Identifier: spl_ap_00067
Date: 1899
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Men and log cabins at Stewart City, Yukon, ca. 1899
Stewart City served as a trading post for prospectors traveling on steamships along the Yukon River.
Identifier: spl_ap_00182
Date: 1899
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Gold nugget from near Anvil Creek, Alaska, ca. 1899
Gold was first discovered at Anvil Creek in 1898 leading to a large rush in prospectors who traveled through nearby Nome, Alaska to reach the gold fields. The value for the gold, provided at $320 in 1899?would be worth $9,891.89 in 2019 dollars.
Identifier: spl_ap_00168
Date: 1899
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Chilkat group watching Klukwan Potlatch ceremony, Alaska, October 11, 1898
Identifier: spl_ap_00107
Date: 1898-10-11
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Aerial view of Dyea and Skagway, Alaska from across Chilkoot Inlet, ca. 1899
Dyea and Skagway served as the two main starting points for overland routes to the Klondike gold fields. Dyea was a short-lived town used by prospectors as an entrance to the Chilkoot Trail. It became less popular after a large avalanche blocked much of the trail on April 3, 1898 killing over 70 prospectors. Skagway served as the starting point for the White Pass Trail. In May 1898 White Pass & Yukon Route railroad route opened in Skagway, offering a faster, safer way for prospectors and their gear to reach the gold fields.
Identifier: spl_ap_00042
Date: 1899
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Prospectors and log cabin at Derwent, Alaska, ca. 1899
According to "Yukon/Charley Rivers National Preserve, Cumulative Impacts of Mining: Environmental Impact Statement, Volume 1" the town of Derwent was established in 1898 near the mouth of the Charley River. Like many mining towns, it was short-lived. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park in Skagway holds the journal of William Tracy James, the man pictured with the dog (named "Dad") at the far right of the photograph. James' diary entry from August 23, 1899 details Pillsbury's visit to take the photograph at Derwent. "I started for Derwent at 7:50 AM and reached here at 6:30 PM. I found a Mr. Pillsbury, a photographer running down the Yukon taking views for the government. He was so struck by [my] head of hair, he wanted a picture of it so took a view of our cabin with Carl, Jack, Othmier, Fisher and I standing in front. We bought 9# rice for $1.80, 7# sugar for $1.40, 3# corn meal for 45 c., 6 cans St. Charles cream $2.00, 4 cans fruit $1.55 and we paid him from the vial of dust we got for a sack of flour above Dawson." James was 21 years old when the photograph was taken.
Identifier: spl_ap_00123
Date: 1899
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Wave at Sun Rise Falls on Skykomish River, ca. 1900
Identifier: spl_ap_00152
Date: 1900
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