Thomas Edison's Stunning Footage of the Klondike Gold Rush

In 1896, Thomas Edison set off to a remote Canadian district near the Alaska border, with cameras in tow. He succeeded in capturing fascinating images of the prospectors brought in by the Gold Rush.

[mbuhplus]

Watching the clip is amazing, but there is something more amazing, the coloring feels so natural.

[frozengoose]

Just clarifying since it seems it didn’t come across in the video but the Klondike Gold Rush occurred in Yukon Territory (not Alaska) which is in Canada.

The steam ships from Seattle went to Skagway, Alaska which borders the south of the Yukon where prospectors then hiked 33 miles over the Chilkoot Pass to Lake Bennett, Canada.

They than travelled by boat through Lake Bennett and the 350 mile Yukon River to Dawson City, Canada.

Dawson City is a great visit if you’re ever this far north. Rich history and still has the Klondike flair going for it.

[tdunph]

Outstanding footage! Absolutely phenomenal

[Pentergrass]

Edison pioneered so much I see he pioneered video journalism. I notice there was a so called “rough rider” with a rifle in Edison’s last video clip (in this vignette) covering the mining. Interesting stuff thanks for sharing Smithsonian.

[northerniltree]

Adding sound to the original video is pure gold.

[junbondoc]

They are wearing the original Levis...

[LeatherneckJoe]

My father when he was a kid met Thomas Edison in new Jersey near his lab in a park he said he was a frendley old man who like to talk to kids, I guess it tells you how old I am....huh...

[Simonjose]

Wow! This restored footage is AMAZING! 🤯 When we were young, if we had seen this, it would have been all grainy and blurry and in black and white. Very difficult to make anything out and not much fun to watch. But THIS is WOW! ✌❤🙏🦋🌈🍄🐛🔥😱

[babybear]

I appreciate the muted color added to the film.

[adrienneglenn]

I'm born and raised in Alaska. I love finding videos that talk about my amazing state.

[evancortez]

America is a great country today because of brilliant visionaries like Thomas Edison. Thank you Thomas Edison!

[danjones]

Visit the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park to learn more! It's the only National Park with two superintendents, one for each unit: Seattle and Skagway. That's right, there are two parks to visit!! If you come to Seattle say Dan says hi. That's me. I work there.

[AbirHasnat]

1:49 "most return home, empty handed" that line made me inspirational, they travel to Alaska, risked everything and returned with nothing

[RailPreserverK]

He also shot some early footage of the White Pass and Yukon route just after it was completed

[grishmakhanna]

I was looking for something like this....to understanden my chapter easily

[loganmalough]

This is the actual video?! This was filmed in 1896?! WHOA!!!!

[paulryan]

🎼 What would you do
🎵 (would you do), 🎶
for a Klondike bar!?

[xvenomx]

Power to the original dwellers of these lands ✊🏽E’O

[jennifersmith]

Hello! I am curious where the source of the footage can be found? I am looking to license a few seconds of it for non-broadcast needs, or if it is free archival footage to use within branded content. Thank you in advance!

[bobmorgan]

Skagway is a bit further north than the red dot.