Skagway, one of the oldest towns in Alaska, and a key player in the Klondike Gold Rush of 1897-1898, once described as “the roughest place in the world” and is only 14 miles from Haines–by water.  If you want to drive your car there it’s more like 250 miles around the mountains.  We took the Fast Ferry that got us there in 45 minutes.

Fast Ferry to Skagway

Under the Dock at Low Tide

There are three cruise ships docked at Skagway today, a Disney Cruise, the  Golden Princes, and a Holland America Line.

Skagway

Skagway, AK

The Mascot Saloon, dates back to 1898

The Arctic Brotherhood Hall, 1899.  Lodge members collected over 8,883 driftwood sticks on the shores of Skagway Bay and nailed them to the front wall.

Arctic Brotherhood Hall

The town is filled with the souvenir shops and restaurants and some historic venues.  We had lunch at the Red Onion Saloon which used to be a saloon, dance hall and bordello, offers tours “upstairs” and the waitresses dress in period costumes.

Red Onion Saloon

There’s a little salmon spawning stream out back that drew a lot of attention as it was filled with fish.

Salmon Spawning Stream