Located in the historic Cadillac Hotel, the Klondike in Seattle bookends the legendary route from the Lower 48 states to the Yukon gold fields during the Gold Rush of the late 1890s. 

Seattle transformed from a small town to a major embarkation and supply hub as would-be miners raced north seeking fortune during a time of deep economic recession in the U.S.  As Seattle boomed, so did Alaska. Trade routes to the Pacific Rim took shape. Major retailers including Filson, Nordstrom and The Bon Marché got their start during this transformative era. 

Today, the park is an anchor in downtown’s Pioneer Square Historic District. Like many frontier towns built primarily of wood, Seattle’s downtown was destroyed by fire in 1889.  It was quickly rebuilt using brick and stone, including the Cadillac Hotel which housed gold miners, local workers and visitors. 

Following damage from the 2001 Nisqually Earthquake, the building was restored to tell the story of the gold rush in the very heart of where history happened.

Park visitors can follow the historic figures of the time and even stand on a scale to measure their weight value in gold. Klondike is easily accessible by public transit and is a convenient gateway to learn more about the many nearby national parks.

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