by C L Smith

Created on: July 07, 2009   Last Updated: July 13, 2009

Introduction

The Klondike Gold Rush had a significant and lasting impact on the cultural heritage of the Yukon Territory, as well the cities on the western coast of the United States and the cities that were established between the two. The cultural heritage of the Klondike Gold Rush consists of three distinct elements. The first element of an area's cultural heritage is the physical cultural heritage which refers to items such as buildings and historic sites and monuments, as well as railroads and shipping ports that were erected at a result of the gold discovery in the Yukon territories. The second element is an area's natural heritage which is the environment in which the physical culture and the social cultures are created. The last element of the cultural heritage of the Klondike gold rush is the social cultural heritage, which included the socio-economic values as well as the philosophical and political values of the area.

Physical Cultural Heritage

The physical artifacts of the Klondike Gold Rush are numerous, both in the Yukon Territory, as well as in Seattle and other cities on the West Coast as well as the cities in between.

Merchants. Cities such as Seattle were home to a large number of businesses that were either expanded or established as a direct result of the Klondike gold rush. 'Stampeders' frequented areas such as Pioneer Square in Seattle and the cities waterfronts to obtain the goods required to work in the gold fields and to obtain much needed lodging as they awaited the beginning of their travels to the Yukon wilderness. Restaurants served meals, gambling halls offered diversions, and theatres, saloons, and brothels entertained the 'stampeders' in the towns that dotted the coast. In addition, an Assay Office was opened in Seattle specifically to process the miner's gold brought back from the Yukon Territory.

West Coast Cities. As the gold rush led to increased revenues for the merchants and other businesses in the communities and the cities themselves reaped additional tax revenues. These tax revenues were often poured back into the cities to enable further expansion of the services offered by the cities and enabled the geographic expansion of the cities as well. For example, money was spent to either eliminate or lower the hills of Seattle which in turn, allowed the city to continue to grow geographically. Additional money was spent to improve the city's sewer, water and gas systems. In addition, the Corps of Engineers

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