Klondike Gold Rush - Seattle Unit National Historical Park

In 1897 news of a gold strike in the Canadian Yukon reached Seattle, triggering a stampede North to the Klondike Gold Fields. From 1897 to 1898, tens of thousands of people from across the United States and around the world descended upon Seattle's commercial district. While in Seattle, the hopeful miners purchased millions of dollars of food, clothing, equipment, pack animals, and steamship tickets. The final outcome of this great stampede helped shape the Seattle we know today, bolstering the city's reputation as the Queen City of the Pacific Northwest.

Klondike Gold Rush NHP - Seattle Unit
117 South Main Street
Seattle, WA 98104
(206)553-7220, ext 0 - Visitor Information

By Plane
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is located approximately 10 miles South of the park. Public transportation is available to Seattle and other points in the metropolitan area.

By Car
Take the James Street exit from I-5. Proceed down the hill and turn left at Second Avenue, then veer right onto S. Washington Street. Street parking is available, but difficult to find during business hours; parking meters are free on Sundays and major holidays. Public parking lots can be found throughout the neighborhood.

By Plane
Pioneer Square is serviced by several METRO bus routes. The waterfront street car also has a station in front of the park. For more information please call METRO at (206)553-3000. Their web site is transit.metrokc.gov/bus/bus.html

The park is also within walking distance of the Washington State Ferry Terminal. For more information on ferry schedules, please call (206)464-6400; in Washington State call 1-888-808-7977. The ferry system's web site is www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries.

Seattle has a marine-type climate. Winters are cool, and summers are mild and pleasant. The average annual temperature is 53 degrees, with an average low of 36 degrees in the winter and an average high of 69 degrees in the summer. The average annual rain fall is 39 inches, with 100 rain free days per year, and an average of 49 percent sunshine during the daylight hours. A rain coat, umbrella and sweater can come in handy at any time of the year.

Here are some of the activities that are offered at Mount Rainier National Park.

• Educational Programs

Recommended Activities
You can learn about the stampede to the Klondike through the park's exhibits, audiovisual programs, and ranger programs.

Audiovisual programs vary in length from 15 to 30 minutes and are available throughout the year.

During the summer months, gold panning demonstrations, ranger programs,and a walking tour of the Pioneer Square Historical District are given daily from the middle of June to Labor Day.

From September to the end of May the park offers formal education programs. Reservations for these programs can be made throughout the school year.