The Alaska Klondike Gold Rush

"There are strange things done in the midnight sun
By the men who moil for gold."
- Robert W. Service
1907 Yukon, Canada

As Eugene O'Neill originally set the play in the 1850s, several of the characters struggle with their desire for gold in California. However, since we've adapted the play, our challenge was to discover an appropriate parallel to the gold rush. The Klondike Gold Rush conveniently falls into our setting, first starting in the late 1800s stretching all the way to the start our play.


Facts about the Klondike Gold Rush

• 1893-1896 worst U.S. financial crisis to date
• 25% of United States work force was unemployed, the silver value fell, and people scrambled to exchange whatever money they had for gold
• 1896 started Klondike gold rush with a few lucky men in Dawson
• The U.S. found out a year later due to harsh Yukon weather
• People quit their jobs and mortgaged their homes, packed up their lives and headed for Canada and Alaska
• Thousands traveled by railway
• Trail was perilous claiming thousands of lives
• 500 miles of treacherous river conditions to get to Dawson
• Once they arrived, prospectors found out that almost all fortunes had been claimed, most long before news even first reached America
• Less than 25% of hopefuls even survived trip to Klondike

Above: Original Footage of the Alaskan Gold Rush (c.1901)
Below: A Brief Documentary on the Klondike Gold Rush


A full timeline and more information on the Alaskan Gold Rush can be found at http://www.library.state.ak.us/goldrush/.