Things to do in Dawson City
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Dawson City Museum
The Dawson City Museum houses a collection of 25,000 gold rush artifacts. Engaging exhibits walk you through the hard-scrabble lives of the miners. The museum is housed in the landmark 1901 Old Territorial Administration building. It was designed by noted architect Thomas W Fuller.
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Jack London Interpretive Centre
In 1898 Jack London lived in the Yukon, the setting for his most popular animal stories, including Call of the Wild and White Fang. At the Centre, there are daily interpretive talks. A labor of love by historian Dick North, Dawne Mitchell and others, this place is a treasure-trove. Read the stories about 'Jack,' a local dog, which Jack, the noted author, used as a model for Buck in Call of the Wild, and how North was able to locate a photo of London working in the Klondike.
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Dredge No 4
The scarred valleys around Dawson speak to the vast amounts of toil that went into the gold hunt. Most emblematic is Bonanza Creek, where gold was first found and which still yields some today. Dredge No 4, 13km off the Klondike Hwy, is a massive dredging machine that tore up the Klondike Valley and left the tailings, which remain as a blight on the landscape. Parks Canada offers fascinating tours of this huge machine that worked something like a freak worm in a science fiction novel.
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Danoja Zho Cultural Centre
Inside this beautiful wood building on the riverfront, the Danoja Zho cultural centre has displays and interpretive talks on the Hän Hwëch'in (River People), who were the first to inhabit the area. The collection includes traditional artifacts and a re-creation of a 19-century fishing camp. Locally made crafts are for sale. Check on the schedule of cultural tours and performances of authentic dances. The striking building was designed by noted Yukon architects KVA.
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Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling Hall
For culture of an altogether different nature, Diamond Tooth Gertie's Gambling Hall is a re-creation of an 1898 saloon, complete with small-time gambling, honky-tonk piano and dancing girls. The casino's winnings go toward town restoration, and at weekends it can get packed as locals jostle with tourists to support preservation.
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Bars at Westminster Hotel
These two bars carry the mostly affectionate monikers 'Snakepit,' 'Armpit' or simply 'Pit.' The one to your left as you face the pink building has a great old tin roof that matches the age of some of the timeless characters hanging out by the bar. The bar to the right has more of a '70s motif as well as live music many nights. Both get lively.
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Commissioner's Residence
Built in 1901 to house the territorial commissioner, the proud Commissioner's residence building was designed to give potential civic investors confidence in the city. The building is also noted for being the longtime home of Martha Black, who came to the Yukon in 1898, owned a lumberyard and was elected to the Canadian Parliament at age 70.
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SS Keno
The voyage from Whitehorse to Dawson was not an easy one. The season was short and there were perilous areas of white water to navigate on the way. The SS Keno was one of a fleet of paddle wheelers that worked the rivers for more than half a century. Moored along the river, the boat has many good displays about travel 100 years ago.
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Klondike Institute for Art and Culture
Dawson is another northern city with a thriving arts community - although like so many others, most artists head south in winter in search of not just better light but simply light. The Klondike Institute for Art and Culture has an impressive new studio building and programs offering artist in residence programs.
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Klondike Kate's
Locals know that spring has sprung when the much-loved Kate's reopens for the year. Every night there's a long list of specials - usually hearty meaty dishes and excellent fresh seafood. It's all creative, right down to the 'news' in the tabloids kept for your amusement. Nice patio out back.
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Drunken Goat Taverna
Even when it's closed the Greek music wafts out onto the street from this fun place with food from the Mediterranean. All the standards are here and taste spot-on thanks to a Greek owner and a Greek chef. A small café in the back alley has cheap and cheery pizzas.
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La Table on 5th
Dawson's most eclectic restaurant is helmed by Antoinette Oliphant, who made her way to Dawson from her native Tobago via some top restaurants in Toronto. Flavors of the Caribbean spice the wide range of fresh and tasty dishes on the oft-changing menu.
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Robert Service Cabin
Called the 'Bard of the Yukon', Robert W Service lived in the Robert Service Cabin, a typical gold rush cabin from 1909 to 1912. Don't miss the readings of Service's poems by a Parks Canada employee.
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Wild & Wooly
This place has all sorts of lovely locally made jewelry along with quite fashionable men's and women's clothes. This is the place to see some of the large nuggets still being found near Dawson.
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River West
A local morning hub, this café has excellent coffee, baked goods, soup and sandwiches. The tables outside are sunny and you can eat in or picnic out.
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Mama Cita's Ristorante
The insanely large portions of excellent pasta draw the crowds, but the pizzas and sandwiches are also popular and the service is good.
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Dawson Trading Post
Dawson Trading Post rents out canoes, with longer trips and transportation arranged. It hasn't changed its rental prices since 1987.
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Gold City Tours
Excellent walking tours are available with Gold City Tours, which also runs a trip to the Bonanza Creek gold mine.
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No Gold Gallery
No Gold Gallery is an enthusiastic supporter - and dealer - of local artists. Bombay Peggy's also displays and sells local works.
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Harrington's Store
Harrington's Store, the old mercantile, has been converted to a gallery of historic photos from Dawson's heyday.
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Bonanza Market
A good market with interesting and some organic fresh foods. The deli makes tasty sandwiches.
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Dog House
The local center for dog-sledding. Dress as a musher and get your picture taken.
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