By June, 1900, Whitehorse had become the virtual hub of the Yukon’s transportation system. The railway, together with sternwheel riverboats, and two huge shoreline freight sheds, demonstrates the growing commercial and industrial importance of the Yukon’s railhead and shipyard operations.
Despite the introduction of modern transportation technology there were still gold seekers straggling north to the Klondike in the early 1900’s making their way in Bennett-built boats. A fleet of these handmade craft can be seen tied to the bank on the far right of the picture.
Every spring the shipyard gangs and the steamer crews would launch the steamboats, fire up their boilers, stock them with supplies, sail them through the summer, and when freeze-up came return them to the ways.
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