Fodor's Expert Review S.S. Klondike

You can't really understand the scale of the gold rush without touring a riverboat. The S.S. Klondike, a national historic site, is dry-docked on the bank of the Yukon River in central Whitehorse's Rotary Park, just a minute's drive from downtown. The 210-foot stern-wheeler was built in 1929, sank in 1936, and was rebuilt in 1937. In the days when the Yukon River was the transportation link between Whitehorse and Dawson City, the S.S. Klondike was the largest boat plying the river. Riverboats were as much a way of life here as on the Mississippi of Mark Twain, and the tour of the Klondike is a fascinating way to see how the boats were adapted to the north. In the old days they were among the few operations that provided Indigenous people paying jobs, so there's a rich First Nations and Alaska Native history as well. Entry fees include a self-guided tour brochure. Guided tours are available through Parks Canada for C$8.