Here Are Some Of The Very First Photos Ever Taken Of Alaska

Alaska has a fascinating history. With evidence of civilization in this amazing state for thousands of years, we have only been documenting it for a very short period of time. In the late 1800s, decades after the first photograph was taken, cameras showed up in Alaska to document the gold rush. These old photos of Alaska are some of the first the rest of the world had ever seen of our stunning and formidable state.

The photograph was invented in 1826, but it wasn't until Jim Mason, Dawson Charlie, and George Washington Carmack struck gold on Bonanza Creek in 1896 that cameras began to journey to Alaska on a regular basis.

With the gold rush came natural curiosity about Alaska. Over 100,000 prospectors came up to Alaska to search for gold, and photographers began to document it.

The National Park Service archives are filled with photos from that time period.

Many of the photos were taken in Skagway, a bustling town, and the gateway to Dyea and the start of the Chilkoot Trail.

The Chilkoot Trail was a dangerous, hard trail for prospectors to climb.

An arduous journey at 35 miles long, it brought the gold rushers up and over Chilkoot Pass to the lakes where they could then float another 560 miles down to Dawson City and the Klondike mining district.

There were actually two photography studios in this area during this time period.

One was in Skagway, and one was in Dyea. They were both owned by Eric. A Hegg, and he and another photographer in his employ made many trips up Chilkoot Pass to document the gold rushers.

This has provided us with an incredible snapshot into Alaska's history, especially during the Klondike Gold Rush.

The opportunity to see the way that residents of Skagway and Dyea lived makes history come alive.

It's fascinating to look at spots you can visit today, and compare them with how they looked over a hundred years ago.

The roads, mode of transportation, and clothing may be different, but the scenery looks remarkably familiar. Alaska has always been awe-inspiring, no matter which century you live in.

If you want to find more amazing photos of the Klondike Gold Rush, make sure to check out the National Parks Service website and archives.

Filled with hundreds of donated photos, they are the best look into a small part of Alaska's past.

Have you ever seen these old photos of Alaska? What did you think? Did you find it fascinating? Let us know in the comments below!

For a more recent trip down memory lane, check out These 17 Photos Of Alaska In The 70s Are Mesmerizing.