During the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898-1899, Dawson City in the Yukon became a bustling hub for prospectors hoping to strike it rich. Amidst the rush, many hastily constructed huts dotted the landscape, built from the abundant timber in the region. One particularly interesting hut, emblematic of the time, was a rough log cabin with a steeply pitched roof, designed to endure the harsh Yukon winters. The hut was small but functional, built to shelter gold seekers from the freezing temperatures that could drop to -40°F (-40°C). Its walls were often made of stacked logs, insulated with moss or mud to seal gaps, keeping warmth in and cold winds out.

Inside, the huts were spartan, but every inch of space was utilized efficiently. A wood-burning stove often sat at the center, both for cooking and heating, while makeshift bunk beds or cots lined the walls. The floor might have been dirt or simple wooden planks, and furniture was typically handmade from whatever materials were available. Supplies like dried food, sacks of flour, and basic mining tools were stored wherever space allowed. The prospectors lived in these huts in cramped conditions, often with several men sharing one small cabin, and many endured months of isolation during the long winter, with only the hope of striking gold keeping their spirits up.

What made these huts particularly interesting were the adaptations to the extreme conditions of the Yukon. Roofs were steeply angled to prevent heavy snow buildup, and sometimes an additional layer of earth was added to the roof for insulation. Some cabins had small, low doorways designed to minimize the amount of cold air that could enter when the door was opened. These huts became a symbol of the resilience and determination of the gold rushers, who endured incredibly tough living conditions in the hope of finding their fortune in the Klondike. Many of these simple structures still stand today as relics of a time when Dawson City was at the heart of one of the most famous gold rushes in hist

That is a unique building style, and looks like a family was living there.

It's a cool drive through if you ever get the chance to

Looks to me like that was a scow, sawed in half. One half the floor and the other half the roof.

Could have made more trapping than fight for gold...

thanks for sharing,

Looks like a lot of people for such a tiny cabin.

X2

Could be! Sure looks like it started out life as something else. Why would anyone build the side with the bottom half sloping IN?

I wondered that also bob but the scow makes sense.

Pretty neat

Thanks 330 I really enjoy these pics

I have read that prospectors coming over Chilkoot Pass and White Pass built barges when they hit the river to float down to Dawson. I bet that house started out that way.