Pioneer Square in Seattle in King County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

What do you need to rush for gold?

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 24, 2016

1. What do you need to rush for gold? Marker

Inscription. One ton of gear for a year, purchased from Seattle stores like Cooper & Levy.

When news of the Klondike Gold Rush hit the nation's newspapers in 1897, about 70,000 stampeders rushed to Seattle to catch ships going north to Canada via Alaska. They bought their supplies here and supported the city's hotels, saloons, and gambling dens. Seattle boomed.

Between July 1897 and March 1898, Seattle's merchants recorded $25 million in sales, up from only $325,000 in all of 1896. This was where the Gold Rush created wealth. Only a handful of stampeders returned richer than when they had left home; most were destitute.

Erected by Trail2Treasure.org.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.

Location. 47° 36.091′ N, 122° 20.059′ W. Marker is in Seattle, Washington, in King County. It is in Pioneer Square. It is on South 1st Avenue south of Yesler Way, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 105 South 1st Avenue, Seattle WA 98104, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Washington’s Puget Sound Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Cascade Range,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Schwabacher’s Store (a few steps from this marker); Maynard Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Merchant’s Cafe (within shouting distance of this marker); Mutual Life Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Pioneer Square Pergola (within shouting distance of this marker); What was Yesler’s Way? / How did a parking garage spark a preservation movement? (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Square Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Pioneer Building (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Seattle.

What do you need to rush for gold? Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, October 24, 2016

2. What do you need to rush for gold? Marker - wide view

<i>Miners and supplies outside Cooper & Levy, ca. 1897</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cooper and Miller (courtesy of Museum of History & Industry, Seattle), circa 1897

3. Miners and supplies outside Cooper & Levy, ca. 1897

Cooper & Levy, pioneer outfitters, formerly located across the street from the marker site.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 9, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 354 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 9, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.