Dawson City, YT #2

On Sunday we decided to do some more panning for gold.

The gold rush started here in 1896 with the Bonanza (Rabbit) Creek discovery. It runs for about 20 miles from the Dome Mountain to the Klondike Rvier.  Bonanza Creek was the center of the Klondike Gold Rush, which attracted tens of thousands of prospectors to the creed and surrounding area.  Prior to 1896 the creek was known as Rabbit Creek but its name was changed by miners in honor of the millions of dollars in gold found in and around the creek.
During gold-mining operations, the course of the creek changed drastically.  It was heavily developed in the early 20th century, but was largely abandoned by the 1950's.  A handful of small gold-mining operations continue on the creek, but today it is best known for its historic value.

The Discovery Claim (#37903), a mining claim on the Bonanza Creek marked the development of the Yukon.  Dredge NO. 4 is a preserved bucketline sluice dredge used to mine placergold and is open as a National Historic Site of Canada on Bonanza Creek.  (Placergold is gold that has washed down the river and embedded itself in gravel/rocks since it is about 10 times heavier).

Here we are - panning for gold.

Unfortunately, we did not find any.  As stated above, this river may not be the same river since it has changed course many times during the dredging operations.  Also, this is a prime place where alot of people come to try their luck.

Here are a few pictures of some active mining still going on here.

Not a very good picture, but this is their dredge that they are using to separate the gold from the dirt/rocks,

Hated to leave Dawson City, but we still have more to see.