Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - Seattle, WA

Did you know 2026 marks the park's 50th anniversary? Hooray for half a century! 🎉

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park was authorized by an act of Congress signed into law on June 30, 1976. What a time it’s been since then!

Watch this page for updates, events, and special programs as we celebrate through the year.

Come share our anniversary with us! We would love to see you! 🎊



📷: NPS

[Image Description: Photo of red brick building wearing an illustrated green and gray striped birthday hat. An illustrated oversized cupcake with a single candle and a pink wrapper sits in front of the building.]

Klondike Gold Rush is now recruiting for the In My Backyard 2026 Cohort! 🌿

In My Backyard is a three-week paid summer internship designed for high school students who would like to learn about the National Park Service through hands-on interpretation.

The internship focuses on building skills in public speaking, research, teamwork, and professional responsibility. In My Backyard interns (also known as IMBYs), will work collaboratively with park staff, park partners, and each other to design and deliver an interpretive program connected to Klondike’s 50th Anniversary. 🎉

The internship culminates in a Public Showcase during Pioneer Square’s First Thursday Art Walk in August (August 6, 2026) where IMBYs will present their interpretive program to park audiences.

Youth who are new to and curious about national parks, storytelling, and public speaking are encouraged to apply.

✅ Applications are open through May 8. Visit the park’s website to learn more and apply:

www.nps.gov/klse/getinvolved/in-my-backyard.htm

Join a team of young leaders making an impact right here in Seattle! 🌞

📷: NPS
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🖼️[Image Descriptions: Image 1: A group of teens in matching blue shirts smile outside a brick building with large windows, while two staff kneel in front with arms outstretched – Image 2: Three teens in blue shirts lead an interactive table display with photos and materials as two adults engage; one teen smiles and gives a thumbs-up – Image 3: Two interns in matching blue shirts with the words “In My Backyard” on the back work on booklets with writing tools, one smiling as they write while the other looks at an artifact nearby.]

TERMINUS: A Glacier Story ❄️🎨

Experience the glaciers of Olympic National Park through the eyes of artists.

TONIGHT (March 5): We are open late!

Join us and our Visiting Artists during Pioneer Square First Thursday Art Walk:

✨ Kim Weaver: Quick Writes Poetry (Activity 6–8pm)
🎤 Suze Woolf: Terminus, Art + Science (Artist Talk 6pm)

📍 Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
🎟️ Free entry
🗓️ Exhibit on view through March 5, 2026

Art, science, poetry, and glaciers—see what remains. 💙

[Image Description: Poster for “TERMINUS: A Glacier Story,”. Featuring glacier-inspired artworks, including an illustrated book cover, poetry text arranged in a mountain shape, and cylindrical textile pieces, all on a dark blue background.]

We're open late TONIGHT for !

TERMINUS: A Glacier Story ❄️🎨

Experience the glaciers of Olympic National Park through the eyes of artists.

✨ TONIGHT Feb 5 — Maddi Bacon: Intro to Zine Making (6–8pm)

📍 Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
🎟️ Free entry
🗓️ Exhibit on view through March 5, 2026

Art, science, poetry, and glaciers—see what remains. 💙

[Image Description: Poster for “TERMINUS: A Glacier Story,”. Featuring glacier-inspired artworks, including an illustrated book cover, poetry text arranged in a mountain shape, and cylindrical textile pieces, all on a dark blue background.]

TERMINUS: A Glacier Story ❄️🎨
Experience the glaciers of Olympic National Park through the eyes of artists.

Join us for our Visiting Artist Series during Pioneer Square First Thursday Art Walks:
✨ Feb 5 — Maddi Bacon: Intro to Zine Making (6–8pm)
✨ Mar 5 — Kim Weaver: Quick Writes Poetry (6–8pm)
🎤 Suze Woolf: Terminus, Art + Science (Artist Talk at 6pm)

📍 Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park
🎟️ Free entry
🗓️ Exhibit on view through March 5, 2026

Art, science, poetry, and glaciers—see what remains. 💙

[Image Description: Poster for “TERMINUS: A Glacier Story,”. Featuring glacier-inspired artworks, including an illustrated book cover, poetry text arranged in a mountain shape, and cylindrical textile pieces, all on a dark blue background.]

During the federal government shutdown, this account will continue to share critical information about park access, safety, and resources. Some services may be limited. For more details, visit:

Operations in the Absence of Appropriations | U.S. Department of the Interior Operations in the Absence of Appropriations

Join us for FREE performances of “Klondike: The Last Adventure” presented by Living Voices.

Saturday, September 20 at 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm located in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park’s theater.

Come along with Bess, an independent young woman, who leaves her past behind, to join others on a dangerous journey in the hunt for gold and with hopes of a new life.



[Image Description: Eleven people in a line hiking up a snow-covered mountain carrying heavy packs with “Klondike: The Last Adventure” written over top.]

Join us Saturday for FREE performances of “Fly for Freedom” presented by Living Voices and discover the story of Antoinette and her family as they join the millions of Black Americans serving their country in the defense industries during World War II.

Saturday, June 12 at 1:00 pm and 2:00 pm

📷: Living Voices

[Image Description: Woman in all black clothing, with a white polka dot, black headband sitting in a chair in front of a screen showing a plane flying through a blue sky.]

Meet Rosie, one of the amazing youth artists in our 2025 Youth Artist-in-Residence Program!

Rosie’s mixed-media painting highlights how the Klondike Gold Rush changed Seattle’s land, water, and people. Her artwork shows flounder trapped in sawdust, tree rings from the lumber industry, and different ships to show the shift from Indigenous to industrial use of the bay. Using gold leaf, gouache, and colored pencil, Rosie tells the story of a city shaped by growth and change.

Artist’s statement:

“Last year, in my AP 2-D Art class, I made several scenes around an inquiry of water, varying from portraits to environmental landscape scenes to still lifes. I most often work with acrylic or gouache paints but have recently been experimenting with a mix of media, integrating paper mâché, gold leaf, crayon, colored pencil, and/or construction paper into my paintings. In my painting for Klondike, I wanted to integrate gold leaf, gouache, and colored pencil to best represent Seattle’s evolution during the Gold Rush.”

About the program:

In partnership with Discover Your Northwest, this internship offered youth artists a chance to grow as visual artists while learning about the history and environmental effects of the Klondike Gold Rush in Seattle. To help guide their work, youth collaborated with National Park Service staff to gain historical insight and inspiration for their artwork. Park staff mentored youth artists on interviewing techniques and how to use what they learned to create art to educate, connect, and share stories with the public.

[Image Description: A vibrant painting blends city life, railroads, and ocean travel into one scene.]

This winter and spring, Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park hosted youth artists from Seattle as part of our 2025 Youth Artist-in-Residence Program!

Today's artist feature is Khushi. Khushi created a collage called “Growing Pains,” using magazine clippings, paint, and marker. Her artwork centers on a map of Seattle and shows how the city changed during and after the Klondike Gold Rush. Through powerful imagery and words, Khushi explores how the environment and communities were affected.

Artist’s statement:

“This piece of artwork explores the impact of the Klondike Gold Rush on the region of Seattle, and more specifically, the landscape and environmental impact. Though the Gold Rush is a major reason that the city of Seattle increased in size, population, and became what it is today, it also had major effects on the environment. The emphasis on commodifying the land and creating temporary solutions to environmental issues led to impacts, which we are still working on rectifying today.”

About the program:

In partnership with Discover Your Northwest, this internship offered youth artists a chance to grow as visual artists while learning about the history and environmental effects of the Klondike Gold Rush in Seattle. To help guide their work, youth collaborated with National Park Service staff to gain historical insight and inspiration for their artwork. Park staff mentored youth artists on interviewing techniques and how to use what they learned to create art to educate, connect, and share stories with the public.

[Image Description: A dense collage of words, maps, and images explores themes of history and social responsibility.]