Canyon City, Yukon facts for kids

Canyon City is a historic place in the Yukon, Canada. It's known as a ghost town from the time of the Klondike Gold Rush. Today, it's a special heritage site. You can find it about 7 kilometers from Whitehorse, Yukon. It sits right at the start of Miles Canyon on the famous Yukon River. Many people enjoy visiting Canyon City, especially in the summer.

Ancient History of Canyon City

Long before the gold rush, First Nations people lived here. They used this area for thousands of years. They set up seasonal camps to fish for salmon and other fish. These camps were both above and below Miles Canyon.

Early explorers didn't have much contact with the local people. However, in 1883, Frederick Schwatka wrote about a First Nations trail. This trail helped people carry their boats and supplies around Miles Canyon. Later, in 1887, George Mercer Dawson saw many salmon above the canyon. Salmon were a very important food source for the First Nations people.

The Klondike Gold Rush of 1898

The year 1898 was a busy time for Canyon City. Thousands of people, called "stampeders," were heading to Dawson. They were all hoping to find gold in the Klondike Gold Rush. To get there, they had to travel down the Yukon River.

Dangerous Waters: Miles Canyon and Whitehorse Rapids

Miles Canyon and the Whitehorse Rapids were the most dangerous parts of the journey. Many boats were wrecked in the fast-moving water. People often stopped at Canyon City to plan how to get past these dangers. Some people even unloaded their boats and carried their supplies around the rapids. This was a very hard job.

By June 1898, there was a huge traffic jam at Canyon City. Almost 300 boats had crashed in the rapids. Sadly, five people had drowned. North-West Mounted Police Inspector Samuel Steele was very worried. He ordered that only skilled pilots could guide boats through the rapids. This helped make the journey safer.

New Ways to Travel: Tramways

To help people move their goods, a tramway was built. It was on the east side of the river. This tramway was eight kilometers long. It went from Canyon City to the end of the rapids. Horses pulled cars loaded with supplies along the track. It cost 3 cents for every pound (about 454 grams) of goods. Another tramway was also built on the west side of the river.

Why Canyon City Became a Ghost Town

For a short time, Canyon City was a busy place. A small town grew there, and plans were even made for a bigger town. But this didn't last long. By 1900, the White Pass & Yukon Route railway was finished. This railway connected Skagway, Alaska, to Whitehorse. It made travel much easier and safer. People no longer needed to stop at Canyon City. Because of the railway, Canyon City lost its purpose and became a ghost town.