Seattle and the Klondike Gold Rush

Gold!!!

Gold was discovered in Canada’s Yukon Territory in 1897

The city exploited the discovery› Stores opened that sold supplies to the

prospectors› Hotels housed the miners before they left› Ships left from Seattle to the Yukon

Seattle was the closest port to the Yukon

Miners Rush North

Tens of thousands fled north› 1,500 on the first ship from Seattle, 9

more followed › Even the mayor of Seattle quit his job and

headed north to the gold fields Each miner had to take about 2,000

pounds of supplies with him› This included 1,000 pounds of food

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Seattle billed itself worldwide as “The Gateway to the Klondike”› Advertised in newspapers and magazines,

even sent letters to other world leaders People stampeded to Seattle

› They were actually called “Stampeders”› People were under the impression that gold

nuggets were lying all over the ground People brought gunny sacks expecting to just

pick them up and take them home

Tough Journey

Less than half of the 100,000 people the set out, actually got there

The “Rich Man’s Route” was an all water route that included 2,000 miles on the Yukon River

The “Poor Man’s Route” was shorter but much harder› They had to climb over steep mountains and then

build a boat and travel 500 miles down the Yukon River

Most arrived to find the best claims were already staked

Some Found Success

John Nordstrom invested $13,000 into a shoe store

in Seattle› Became the Nordstrom department store chain› The Nordstrom’s actually owned the Seattle

Seahawks for a time Edward Nordoff turned his small store into

the Bon Marche The Klondike gold rush turned Seattle into the

biggest city in the Pacific Northwest by 1910› A title it has yet to relinquish