by Mila Nelson

Most of Skagway’s elementary classes went to the Rapuzzi House where they met the Friends of the Klondike Corridor and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. First, the students pretended they went back in time to 1897 when gold was found in Rabbit Creek. They started in Seattle and traveled with their imaginations up to Skagway, and they bundled up in hats, coats, and scarves for the cold boat ride there. Next, they packed food and tools for survival for their journey. The students had to choose if they wanted to hike the Chilkoot Trail or the White Pass Trail. They had to pick between using a Tlingit packer or to carry the bag themselves.  Everybody hiked the Chilkoot Trail, and when they arrived at Lake Bennett, they made a boat and took it down the Yukon River. Then the students started to pan for gold and got their fortune.  Some students found gold or a job and some did not.  The Friends of the Klondike also came into the fourth grade classroom. The students went back in time to take on the role of a made up character from the Klondike Gold Rush.  The students had a great time with the Friends of the Klondike Corridor and the Gold Rush National Historical Park. A big thank you for helping us learn about our local history in a fun way.