Pour yourself a cup of coffee, make sure you’re bundled up (okay, maybe not…), as we continue our Alaskan cruise. We are now into Day #5, Skagway, Alaska. Skagway’s population is surprisingly low: 862 people, as of the 2000 census (per Wikipedia). The population doubles during the summer months to handle the 900,000 visitors, who mostly arrive via cruise ships. There were four big ships in port the day we were there. Here is my favorite photo of our ship, the Veendam (the ship only looks small; check out the size of the people on the pier):
You can see the water is still the milky greenish color of glacial melt. From the ship, it’s a short walk to the shopping area of Skagway:
The town has retained a rustic appearance, even maintaining wooden sidewalks. The effect is slightly marred by the cruise ship in the distance, though! I love the looks of this building, plus there were TWO quilt shops:
And check out this antique locomotive designed to clear snow from the tracks:
Here’s a view of Skagway as we were cruising away Thursday evening, and you can see the setting of the town. Can you imagine coming here 110 years ago, getting all your provisions together, then making the hard trek to search for gold? This was a particularly scenic night as we left Skagway.
One last look at the scenery as the sun sets into what I can only presume was the west.
Skagway has quite a colorful history beginning in 1896 when gold was discovered in the Klondike, and Skagway became an entry point for those looking for gold. Wikipedia has some pretty interesting information here about those early lawless years.
C’mon back tomorrow and wear a hat and gloves — we’re going to Glacier Bay!
Sue
We’re going on the Alaska cruise next summer for our 20th anniversary… We’re planning it with another couple who will be having their 30th anniversary, and inviting anyone and everyone who would like to join us. No date yet… Seeing your pix makes me wish we were there now!