Klondike Gold Rush Museum

Good to visit as a one time place. more

The last National Park Service (NPS) interpretive program I attended was at Mount Rainier National Park two years ago, and it was a stinker! I had talked up campfire programs to my wife and had to apologize for bringing her to the worst evening program I'd ever seen in nearly 30 years. I just moved to Seattle, and on a visit to REI, I talked to a NPS ranger who staffed an info desk inside the store. He is attached to Klondike Goldrush National Historic Park, which is located in downtown Seattle. I decided to visit the park and scheduled my visit so I could attend a walking tour. Big mistake. The interpretive ranger, Tim, who lead the tour seemed from the get go to not want to lead the tour. He made no effort to advertise the program, he seemed reluctant to go, and he complained about his feet hurting from the four-mile tour he led yesterday. (I'm not sure how much of this is exaggeration; regardless, this is not a message professional interpretive rangers should be broadcasting.) Before the walk, Ranger Tim failed to connect with his audience. He never introduced himself nor did he ask about the backgrounds of the 12 visitors attending his program. He began the program late and failed to mention where we'd be going or safety considerations. We finally left and made our first stop, which seemed impromptu. Ranger Tim didn't seem to be telling a story at all; he was simply relating disjointed facts about Seattle, none of which had to do with the Klondike Gold Rush. Ranger Tim misspoke, twisted his words, and his visual aids, a collection of maps and historical photographs, were disorganized. The second stop lasted for about 15 to 20 minutes as Ranger Tim droned on and on without any narrative structure. I grew tired of standing still, and looking around, I noticed pained looks on other visitors' faces. I knew at this point, 35 minutes into the "interpretive program", that I had to bail. more

I think this National Park is half a national park, with the other half in Alaska. The exhibits are as interesting, or more so, than most small historical museums. some areas and exhibits don't look inviting to the general public, and I assume that they are explained on a Field Trip by a Ranger or Docent then. the Interactive comuter kiosks seem a waste of technology, for it's just a multiple-choice quiz. Exhibits on the great fire, too. more

Probably not many people have heard of this place. This tiny little one-room museum is fun to see. In 1890s, the would-be miners heading for the Klondike goldfields ( in Canada) made Seattle their outfitting center and contributed to the later prosper of the city. When they struck it rich up north, they headed back to Seattle to unload their gold, making Seattle doubly rich. I heard there are plans to move this little museum into a historic building at the corner of South Jackson Street and 2nd Ave in the near future. more

This National Park - technically the smallest national park in the country - tells the story of the 1898 Klondike Gold rush, which had the effect of really putting Seattle on the map. There are a lot of exhibits that demonstrate the risks the prospectors took when they were on the hunt for gold - and how people in Seattle got stinky rich. more

Located in downtown's Pioneer Square sits the Klondike Gold Rush Museum. It shows cool artifacts and historical objects that were related to the Gold Rush which occurred in 1896. Its a great place to bring kids to show them what went on and how Seattle was a part of it. Admission to this museum is free and it is open all year round. more