June 15, 2026 Skagway, Alaska Day #2

There was rain overnight as the streets were still wet. The 7:30 a.m. temperature was 8°C with light breeze at 3 km/hr from the south under cloudy skies. The clouds clinging to the mountains were quite low.

We wandered over the Sittin’ Sasquatch Café for Latté, Americano and delicious banana pecan muffins. At 8 a.m. there were not very many people out and about from the four cruise ships in port today. The ships is port today are Norwegian Joy from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m,; Silver Whisper from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Celebrity Summit from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. and RCL Voyageur of the Seas from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. By the time we walked to the Skagway National Parks Service Visitor Centre, which opened at 9 a.m., more people filled Broadway.

With a QR code scanned and the URL downloading painfully slowly, we began the 3.5 km walk to the Gold Rush Cemetery. Although we were clad in rain jackets and pants, the clouds lightened and we encountered no rain the whole day. We passed the White Pass & Yukon Route rail maintenance yard which meant that we were close to our destination, having passed the area on the train yesterday.

At the cemetery, there was a small tour bus group, a few other walkers and several cyclists on rented electric bicycles. The route from any bicycle rental store was flat, easily done with a regular bicycle (but only electric bikes are for rent). At the parking lot, there was a sign that noted some of the characters of the era that are buried there.

It is a forest setting and no straight lines of grave stones. Notables were Jefferson Randolph “Soapy” Smith, age 38, a nefarious con man and crime boss (Alaska’s Al Capone); Frank Reid age 54, town surveyor; and Martin Itjen, initially a track layer, then Skagway’s first undertaker, who created the Skagway Streetcar Company for his tour company. Beside his grave is the “Largest Nugget”

On July 8, 1898, “Soapy” Smith’s gang robbed a Canadian prospector of over $2,500 in gold dust ($30,000 US today) in a crooked three-card Monte game. The local citizens were enraged, they had had enough of Soapy and his gang. The Committee of 101 were a group of citizens trying to keep law and order in the town. They scheduled a meeting on the Juneau Co. Wharf. With a rifle slung over his shoulder, Soapy crashed the meeting. He started an argument with Frank Reid, who blocked his way, one of four men guarding the door. A gunfight broke out. Both men were mortally wounded. Soapy died instantly but Reid lingered for 12 days. Frank Reid was regarded as a hero. His funeral was elaborate. His eight-foot tall granite gravestone Is the largest in the Gold Rush Cemetery, located close to the centre of the cemetery,. Part of the inscription reads: “He gave his life for the honor of Skagway”. We took a side trail from the cemetery up to nearby Reid’s Falls which could be easily heard in the cemetery.

We returned to town taking a different route passing the small airport and briefly following the walking tour. On 5th Street we found the original house of Skagway’s founder, Captain William Moore, known as Moore House, and the 1887-88 built log cabin of his son, Ben. The original house was two storeys and had several additions until sold in 1907. Several rooms are open to view.

It was noon, we had seen a kiosk with a sign Reindeer Reuben, but it was closed. Close by was a store that sold fudge. We bought some German chocolate fudge for later.

We wondered back to 5th Street to see a stone building. It houses the Skagway Museum and City Hall. At the time of its completion, the U.S. Congress had newly adopted legislation for license fees and taxes to support public schools. The building was sold at a profit The funds were used to build a Methodist church in 1901. The purchaser of the building was the federal government and it became the U.S. Court House and jail until 1956. The City of Skagway bought the building which houses City Hall on the main floor and the Skagway Museum, since 1961, on the second floor.

Nearby was the Skagway Cultural Garden. Along its pathways amongst the flowers and bushes are 29 different sculptures. The art is mixed with aspects of the Tlingit culture. It is trying to educate visitors to the history of their people especially the disruption of the culture in the 20th century through residential schools and the desire for reconciliation through eduction. It is a very peaceful place. We bought coffees at the quiet café when we finished strolling through the garden.

We returned to the hotel to make coffee in the mini coffeemaker and enjoy our fudge. Later in the afternoon, we joined our group for a farewell Cocktail Party hosted by Zelzen in the Gallery Lounge on the second floor. Only one couple did not attend.

People partially mingled, but one of the groups of six and the group of eight sat together. Hal made a farewell speech on behalf of the group for Zelzen’s talent in keeping the group well informed about out land trip.

We chose to eat dinner at the nearby Skagway Brewing Company. The special Cajun Shrimp with Cajun Fries for Larry and Sesame Salmon Salad for Claire. After a short walk we stopped at Klondike One for ice cream before returning to the hotel. Tomorrow we embark the Koningsdam and will not have access to internet until June 18 when we are ashore in Ketchikan, Alaska. If we find internet ashore there we will post more blogs.

Total Steps 19,282