Going for Gold

When gold was discovered in Canada’s Klondike River in 1896, Seattle became the jumping-off point for the Klondike Gold Rush before journeying north. Gold prospectors were regular patrons of Pioneer Square, where they purchased goods from local retail outlets, many located along 1st Ave S (formerly Commercial St). While few people made their fortune by traveling to the Klondike, many Seattle business owners profited by supplying the stampeders with shelter, entertainment, and gear. The Klondike Gold Rush jumpstarted the economy and immediately ended the Panic of 1893 depression in Seattle.