Yukon and Alaska Bound, Part 28. Whitehorse, Yukon

Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

At the Beringia Interpretive Centre, Whitehorse

Our campsite at Hi Country RV Park in Whitehorse

"Baked" Cafe and Bakery. Our place for coffee & drinks.

We are back in Whitehorse, Yukon, taking it easy, and waiting for my relatives to arrive from Switzerland on the 20th of July.



We will then be touring together for about 3 weeks.



After I did all the laundry, and Anders washed the truck and camper we were ready to look at the town of Whitehorse.



About 28,000 people live here in Whitehorse out of the 36,000 in all of the Yukon. It is the economic and cultural hub of the Yukon, and its capital city.



Whitehorse is a comfortable and clean city with nice people.



Before we did some touristy things, first things first, we needed a good coffee. Off we went to " Baked" the coffee shop and lunch place on Main and Front Street. Aha, we are back in civilisation.

Anders in front of  the beautiful sculpture at the Beringia Centre

Liz in front of the skeleton of a wholly marmmoth.

Large Scimitar Cats used to roam the Yukon.

One afternoon we just leisurely spent walking around downtown, popping into shops and galleries. Wonderful!


Visiting the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Center, we were disappointed that the wonderful art and handicrafts we looked at during their festival were no longer available.


Too bad, because by now we would be a little bit better informed what to buy. But we did watch one of their interesting videos.


The Beringia Interpretive Center is a must see in Whitehorse. It explains and shows that history is not finite, but often gets re-written.


Here is an excerpt of the center's information:

"During the great Klondike Gold Rush word got out that there was more than just gold in "them there hills"...there were strange things too! 

Soon scientists from around the world were coming to the Yukon to record and collect spectacular ice age fossils. 

However, these discoveries were not news to the Yukon First Nations who already knew about the underground world of bones. 

It was not long before they would have a chance to tell their stories. In the 1960s and 1970s another wave of scientists arrived in the Yukon to document fossils and artifacts from the Old Crow area, including the famous Bluefish Caves. 

What they found set the scientific world on its head and challenged entrenched ideas about the peopling of the New World."

Really nice displays

Realistic looking displays

Living history is displayed at its best here at the Beringia Centre.




Giant woolly mammoths and giant Scimitar Cats roamed this land.




Allow enough time (3-4 hours) for your visit and do watch their video as well.

Anders at the Transportation Museum.

Liz on top deck of the S.S. Klondike

Liz at Miles Canyon Suspension bridge.

Next door is the Yukon Transportation Museum.



Equipment, tools, and photographs remind us of the incredible challenges the Yukon presented to the workers who built the Alaska Highway, and the miners, prospectors, and dreamers who came to the north.




If you pay for both of these museums at the same time, it is less expensive.



A visit to the S.S.Klondyke Sternwheeler National Historic Site is free if you use your Canada Parks Pass.



The S.S. Klondyke was the largest in the sternwheel fleet plowing the Yukon River between Dawson City and Whitehorse in the first half of the 20th century.



Built in 1929, sank in 1936, re-built and re launched in 1937, now restored and proud sitting on the shore of the Yukon River here in Whitehorse.



It is interesting to see the luxury and comfort these river boats provided for the first class passengers.

Anders at Miles Canyon, Whitehorse, Yukon.

Liz on the suspension bridge at Miles Canyon, Whitehorse, Yukon.

One afternoon we drove out to the Miles Canyon Suspension bridge on the Yukon River south of town.



Here the Yukon flows rapidly through this narrow gorge with 50-foot high basaltic walls.



During the gold rush many boats with precious cargo were lost until the RCMP came to regulate the transfer through this canyon.



Later, a wooden rail system around the canyon eliminated the need to battle this river hazard.



Also, the hydroelectric dam constructed later to provide power to Whitehorse, tamed the canyon.



To Anders and me, it is just a very pretty spot. We decided to come back some other time and walk along the canyon.



More pictures from Whitehorse in our on line picture album.

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