Dawson City

With just 1330 inhabitants, Dawson City is the second-largest town in the Yukon – and until 1953 it was even the territory’s capital. This is where the Klondike River flows into the Yukon, and it was here that countless fortune-seekers flocked at the end of the nineteenth century in search of a better life. Many old buildings still bear witness to this era today; some have been restored and are now popular attractions. If you would like to learn more about the gold mines and the prospectors, a visit to the Dawson City Museum is well worthwhile.

Dawson City was famous not only for its gold, but also as the cradle of many talented writers: Jack London, Robert Service and Pierre Berton are the finest examples. Each of them earned the town a place in literature. Even today, writers can retreat to Berton’s childhood home to work on their books in peace and quiet.

Dawson City also plays an important role for the mushers of the legendary Yukon Quest, the famous sled dog race between Whitehorse and Fairbanks, as this is the only place where the teams are allowed to restock their supplies. Don’t miss this spectacle during your stay in Dawson City.