Travel Back in Time – A Continuing Travelogue the Best Historic Sites Part IV – How the West was Won
June 11, 2009
This is the last step in our travel across America, ending here in the Great American West. The Western United States is comprised of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Some of Americas truest stories of monetary success as well as survival are from the West. Cowboys and Indians come to mind when thinking of the west to many people, but the west also includes Alaska, our 49th state.
In this, the finale of our journey across the United States, we will focus first on the traditional old west part of the United States, places that conjure images of covered wagons, tales of survival in harsh terrains, and my favorite, the gold rush!
In 1849 the California gold rush began. James W. Marshall discovered gold, and the rush was on. It didn’t take long until hundreds of thousands of men, women and children, were sailing or riding to California to stake their claim on instant riches. Also called forty-niners history was made with their tales of riches and ruins.
Interstate 5 travels through Old Sacramento, a historical journey you are not soon to forget. Old Sacramento is home to many historic buildings kept in their original state for a snapshot to the past. Old Sacramento offers the “Spirit of Sacramento” an historic riverboat as well as the California State Railroad Museum.
Begun by John Sutter and his landing party, Old Sacramento is the old west at its finest. Stories of gold, migration and murder abound in this old west town. You will find many places of interest nearby. Sutter’s Fort State Historic Park gives visitors a chance to pan for gold, or if you prefer, head to the Suspects Mystery Dinner Theater to solve an old west river boat murder! California offers much for the historical tourist to do, check out any of California’s many historic sites for an idea for your next vacation.
Now on to the other west, Alaska. Its history is based in part on similar circumstances to that of California. That being the gold rush. The Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park located in Skagway is definitely worth visiting.
Divided into two parts, the Seattle and Skagway Units, there is enough to keep a history buff busy in two different western States.
The Skagway Unit is located in Alaska and boasts a variety of exhibits, audio visual presentations and a visitor center, not to mention the vast area of wilderness surrounding you. The Curatorial center houses a collection of material from over 50 excavations in the historic district of nearby Dyea. Discoveries so far include saloons, a liquor store, railroad depot, bakery, cigar and confectionery store, dry goods store, tailor and furrier shop, paint and wallpaper store, transportation company, catholic church rectory, mission house, the home of the founder of Skagway, and a residential district.
Explore the possibilities in Alaska. Remember to check times of operation for all of your destinations. I hope you have enjoyed your journey across the United States. Go out and see what you have been missing, our history, our link to the past.
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Travel Back in Time – A Continuing Travelogue the Best Historic Sites Part IV – How the West was Won…
In this, the finale of our journey across the United States, we will focus first on the traditional old west part of the United States, places that conjure images of covered wagons, tales of survival in harsh terrains, and my favorite, the gold rush!…