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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Tenaya Canyon in Yosemite, ca. 1897-1900
No caption is provided for the photograph but it appears to show Tenaya Canyon in Yosemite. Half Dome appears at the right of the photograph. Pillsbury had a lifelong interest in the park and established his own photograph studio there in 1897.
Identifier: spl_ap_00164
Date: 1897?; 1900?
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White Pass and Yukon Railway tracks and mountain view, ca. 1899
During the Klondike Gold Rush, the White Pass was one of the routes used by prospectors to travel from Skagway to the Yukon gold fields. In April 1898 the White Pass and Yukon Railroad Company was formed in an effort to establish an easier way through the pass. Construction on the railroad began the following month. Thousands of workers worked around the clock in treacherous conditions to complete the project. The railroad track was completed at White Pass on February 20, 1899 and reached Lake Bennett on July 6, 1899. The final spike on the railroad was placed on July 29, 1900 in Carcross, B.C.
Identifier: spl_ap_00141
Date: 1899?
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View NW from 9th Ave. and S. Lane St., ca. 1900
Holy Names Academy, located at 7th Ave. S. and S. Jackson St., appears in the center right of the photograph. The King County Courthouse, located at 7th Ave. and Terrace St., appears at the far right. The photo was taken from near 9th Ave. and S. Lane St., an area now replaced by Interstate 5.
Identifier: spl_ap_00155
Date: 1900?
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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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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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Aerial view of Skagway, Alaska, ca. 1899
View of Skagway, Alaska looking SW towards the Chilkoot Inlet. The White Pass and Yukon Railway roundhouse can be seen at the lower right and many tents and other homes can be seen in the distance. During the Klondike Gold Rush, the White Pass was one of the routes used by prospectors to travel from Skagway to the Yukon gold fields. In April 1898 the White Pass and Yukon Railroad Company was formed in an effort to establish an easier way through the pass. Construction on the railroad began the following month. Thousands of workers worked around the clock in treacherous conditions to complete the project. The railroad track was completed at White Pass on February 20, 1899 and reached Lake Bennett on July 6, 1899. The final spike on the railroad was placed on July 29, 1900 in Carcross, B.C.
Identifier: spl_ap_00041
Date: 1899?
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Muir Glacier, Alaska, June 25, 1899
A steamboat can be seen at the far left of the photograph and the Muir Glacier can be seen at the right.
Identifier: spl_ap_00053
Date: 1899?
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Prospectors' camp, ca. 1899
The location of the camp is unknown. It is likely in Alaska or British Columbia. Signs in the photo include "Restaurant," "U.S. Hotel," "U.S. Hotel Bunk House," "Bakery & Restaurant," "Boundary Hotel, A.O. Palm, Prop.," "Hotel and Restaurant." A sled on the lower right belongs to the Dalton Transportation Co. Several men, horses and tents are visible in the photograph. A bicycle is propped up on one of the tents at the lower right.
Identifier: spl_ap_00139
Date: 1899?
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Aerial view of Dawson City across the Yukon River, ca. 1899
Dawson City was originally home to members of the Han Tribe. It became the epicenter of the gold rush in Yukon Territory - established in 1899?and swelling to a population of 40,000 the following year as prospectors flooded the area. The city served as the capitol of the Yukon until 1952.
Identifier: spl_ap_00027
Date: 1899?
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White Pass and Yukon Railway tracks and mountain view, ca. 1899
During the Klondike Gold Rush, the White Pass was one of the routes used by prospectors to travel from Skagway to the Yukon gold fields. In April 1898 the White Pass and Yukon Railroad Company was formed in an effort to establish an easier way through the pass. Construction on the railroad began the following month. Thousands of workers worked around the clock in treacherous conditions to complete the project. The railroad track was completed at White Pass on February 20, 1899 and reached Lake Bennett on July 6, 1899. The final spike on the railroad was placed on July 29, 1900 in Carcross, B.C.
Identifier: spl_ap_00142
Date: 1899?
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