The Klondike Gold Rush History of Seattle before 1900

the central waterfront during gold rush (1897)



railroad avenue (now alaskan way) along seattle waterfront, 1900

seattle, rest of nation, hard hit panic of 1893 and, lesser extent, panic of 1896. unlike many other cities, found salvation in form of becoming main transportation , supply center stampeders heading klondike gold rush. when steamer ss portland arrived @ schwabacher s wharf in seattle july 17, 1897, seattle post-intelligencer scooped other u.s. newspapers story ton of gold had arrived alaska. publicity campaign engineered largely erastus brainerd convinced world seattle place outfitted journey alaska, , seattle became household name, literally overnight. miners mined gold. seattle mined miners.

seattle s relationship alaska during period 1 of rapacity. besides mining, on october 18, 1899 in pioneer square, chamber of commerce committee of fifteen , goodwill visit alaska, proudly unveiled 60-foot (18 m) totem pole fort tongass. problem was, pole had been stolen tlingit village of gaash on cape fox. federal grand jury in alaska indicted 8 of seattle s prominent citizens theft of government property. nominal fine assessed. village repaid when original burned , chamber of commerce commissioned replacement—and paid twice. thank check , wrote gaash village leaders. payment first one. send check replacement .