Travel: Ghosts in Alaska

According to The Complete Idiot's Guide to Ghosts and Hauntings,there are two locations in Alaska worth visiting. Golden North Hotel Third and Broadway Skagway, Alaska Red Onion Saloon Second and Broadway Skagway, Alaska So what's up with Skagway? From Wikipedia Skagway is a first-class borough in Alaska, on the Alaska Panhandle. It was formerly a cityfirst incorporated in 1900 that was re-incorporated as a borough on June 25, 2007. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city was 862. However, the population doubles in the summer tourist season in order to deal with more than 900,000 visitors. The port of Skagway is a popular stop for cruise ships, and the tourist trade is a big part of the business of Skagway. The White Pass and Yukon Route narrow gauge railroad, part of the area's mining past, is now in operation purely for the tourist trade and runs throughout the summer months. Skagway is also part of the setting for Jack London's book The Call of the Wild. Skagway (originally spelled Skaguay) is from the Tlingit name for the area, "Skagua" or "Shgagwèi" meaning "a windy place with white caps on the water. From Paranormal Knowldege.com: The Ghost of The Golden North Hotel

In the 1890s Skagway, Alaska was one of the main jump-off points for the Yukon gold rush in the Gulf of Alaska. People all over the area were possessed by the thought of finding gold, and most never got even a taste of it. Most of the time, people came back even more broke, or died trying to get there. These people never considered how hard and how unlikely it would be for them to become rich. Avalanches, falling over rock ledges, and starvation were the most common causes for death. It was a cold and very dangerous area that if one did not go with proper equipment and supplies, it was almost a sure death wish. One legend is about a man named Klondike Ike. He left his 19 year-old fiancee Mary from Skagway to participate in the gold rush. He promised Mary upon his return that he would be rich and they can then get married. Mary was back in Skagway waiting for Klondike to come home when she found out he had been killed by an avalanche. Mary could not bear the news of her fiancee not coming back and she locked herself in room 24 of the Golden North Hotel. She would wait years after his death in that room, looking out the window at the docks, hoping he would return on one of the ships. The Ghost of Mary is seen quite often at the hotel. She is said to be in the corridors and in particular room 24. Most of the time, Mary has been a warm presence, except for one occurrence where a man reported sleeping in the room and something trying to choke him to death as he slept. To this day, room 24 is always booked in advance for tourists who want to witness the ghost of Mary herself.

Red Onion Saloon http://www.redonion1898.com/ According to the website, this location has been Skagway's "most exclusive brothel" since 1898. From the website: The Red Onion was the classiest dance hall and saloon in the bustling gold rush town of Skagway. Our upstairs bordello consisted of 10 cribs (or rooms). Each crib was very small in size, but elaborately decorated. The cribs all had 2 or 3 doors for escape purposes and temperature control. A weary miner could wander into the Red Onion for a taste of “liquid courage” and a dance or two with a beautiful lady. When the time came to cure his thirst for some love and affection, the anxious gentleman would choose his girl in a very unique way. Behind the bar were 10 dolls that represented the 10 girls upstairs. As each customer would choose a doll of his choice, the bartender would then lay the doll on her back, indicating that that girl was “busy”. Once the gentleman came back down the stairs, the doll was sat upright so every customer in the bar knew that she was once again available. The Red Onion Brothel Museum is filled with many antiques from the gold rush days. Many of the items on display were found in the brothel — others are part of the owner’s personal collection. Step back in time with one of our “madams” and enjoy the many stories that she has to share. Time in the Red Onion Saloon today in not complete without a peek at the famous Red Onion Brothel. And maybe you’ll even catch a glimpse of Lydia our resident ghost.