Whitehorse Favorites

Favorite thing: At Third Avenue and Elliott Street you will find the Old Log Church. Another one of Whitehorse's unique buildings.

Architectural History

It is a log building with an L-shaped plan and a gable roof. The interior consists of stick frame trusses and the roof is covered with cedar shingles.

In 1916, a vestry joining the church was rebuilt and enlarged. The baptistry, porchway and cloakroom were added in 1944 and a belfry was constructed in 1945. A new concrete foundation was a 1964 addition which was followed by interior renovations in 1982.

Cultural History

The first church services in Whitehorse were held in a tent structure in 1900 with the rector and his wife living in an adjacent 12' x 14' tent structure The log church was built by October 1900. During the winter of 1900 the forward portion, now containing the chancel and sanctuary, was partitioned and used by the missionary and his wife as their living quarters until the completion of the rectory in 1901. In 1953, the church was named the Cathedral Church of the Diocese, thus making it the first log cathedral.

The bell tower was originally separate from the church, but in 1910, the tower fell over in a storm and the bell was cracked. Although a new bell was placed atop the church, it was not enclosed until 1945.

Throughout the century, various renovations were made to the church. It was in use until 1960, when it was restored and turned into a church museum.

The building was designated a Territorial Historic Site in 1978.

Favorite thing: If you take the time to walk around most of downtown you will often come across murals painte on the buildings. They are great, you can almost be fooled.

If you are fooled it looks like you will just walk into the loading zones of some businesses.

But they really make the back of some old buildings look really neat.

Favorite thing: In 1898, the time of the great Gold Rush, Whitehorse became a temporary stopping point for prospectors on their way to the gold fields. Whitehorse was located on the head of navigation on the Yukon River, past 2 major obstacles on the river, Miles Canyon and the Whitehorse Rapids.

With the completion of the White Pass and Yukon Railway, linking Whitehorse with Skagway, Alaska, Whitehorse became a permanent settlement in 1900. Whitehorse saw a short copper boom that ended as soon as 1920. Later, in the 1920s and 1930s Whitehorse developed a reputation as an outfitting and takeoff base, with tourists coming to Whitehorse.

During WW II, Whitehorse played a major role as link between the north and south. The Alaska Highway was built and opened for the public after the war. This replaced the Yukon River as main transportation route. In 1953 the territorial capital was moved from Dawson City to Whitehorse.

Favorite thing: Whitehorse is a city of character, colour and contrasts and is often referred to as 'Wilderness City'. Although Whitehorse is one of the largest urban-designated areas in Canada, the central core is quite small with a unique northern character.

Favorite thing: Canadian gold rush of the late 1890s.

Gold was discovered on August 17, 1896, near the confluence of the Klondike and Yukon rivers in western Yukon Territory. The news spread quickly, and by late 1898 more than 30,000 prospectors had arrived. Annual production peaked at $22 million worth of gold in 1900, and soon prospectors began moving on to Alaska. By the time mining ended in 1966, the area had yielded $250 million in gold

The name Whitehorse conjures up visions of the klondike Gold Rush, sled dogs and the brave pioneers who fought the element to build the Alaska Highway.

Fondest memory: Alaska Highway between Whitehorse and Haines.

Favorite thing: Stop by Otter Falls. This picturesque falls was once featured on the back of the Canadian 5 Dollar bill.

I will put a picture up here soon of it.

Fondest memory: Travelling the lonely road from Haines Jct. to Aishihik Lake one is liable to encounter the odd wood bison in the area. (click for a larger view)

Fondest memory: The Yukon in mid-late August is just gorgeous, with the bright red colors vibrant! This is the St. Elias Mountains very close to Kluane Lake. I used to see them every morning on a clear day walking to work- breathtaking!

Favorite thing: Take in the natural surroundings. Fireweed (pictured) is a very prominent part of the Yukon nature and is a bright purple in summer, but turns fire red (hence the name) in autumn (late august) littering the roadsides and filling the mountainsides.. just gorgeous. Must see it for yourself.