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Mysterious 36
MacBride Museum of Yukon History
Whitehorse , Yukon Territory

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   Gold on Bonanza Creek!
After the discovery of gold
in the Klondike in 1896, word
spread to the rest of the
world and thousands of
stampeders headed for Dawson
City. Most were travelling on
their own or in very small
groups.
   By the spring of 1898,

there was considerable
prospecting activity
throughout the Yukon, but no
easy way to the goldfields. A
trip up the West Coast by
ship from Seattle or
Vancouver was the simple part
of the journey. Once they
reached Skagway or Dyea, gold
seekers began an arduous hike

over the Chilkoot or White
Passes to Lake Bennett, where
they built small boats they
then paddled to Dawson.
   While most everyone
headed directly to the
Klondike, some believed there
were likely several more
"Bonanzas" to be found,
virtually anywhere in the

Yukon. Secrecy and security
were paramount. Everyone was
looking for the next big
strike.
   The following photographs
of Henry Dow Banks illustrate
the efforts of a large group
of prospectors seeking a
mother lode. Attempting to
keep their destination and

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