Atlin in Stikine Region, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

Me`n Cho`Bennett Lake

— Chinkoot National Trail Historic Site —

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell

1. Me`n Cho`Bennett Lake Marker

Inscription. In the spring of 1898, a sea of tents stretched from here to Lake Lindeman. Travelers from the Chilkoot Trail and White Pass routes met at Bennett. They found barbers, jewelers, cobblers, hot baths, hotels, restaurants, saloons, a police post, a courthouse, and a tent church. Seven thousand boats sailed from Bennett after a breakup in 1898- as many as 800 in a single day.

Ch'aku`x Anax
Dul.adi Ye`
Lac Bennett
Au printemps 1898, un village de tentes s'e`tendait d'ici jusqu'au lac Lindeman. Les voyageurs qui empruntaient la piste Chilkoot ed le col White se croisaient a` Bennett. Iis y trouvalent des barbiers, des joailliers, des cordonniers, des Bains chauds, des hotels, des restaurants, des bars, un poste de police, un palais de justice et une e`gilise dans une tente./ Sep mille bateaux ont quitte` Bennett apre`s la fonte des glaces en 1898; parfait jasqu'a` 800 embarcations partaient la me`me journe`e.

Caption:
"the beaches was packed several deep with boats heavily laden and ready to start, their sails already spread. Flags ere gaily flying from hundreds of mast-heads, and in the bright sunlight the scene

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thus presented was one never to be forgotten." Julian Price

<<"La plage e`tait remplie de plusieurs range`es d'embarcations lourdement charge`es et pre`tes a` partir, leurs violes de`ja` leve`es. Les drapeanux flottaient gaiement des centaines de te`tes de ma`t et, dans la humie`re vive du soleil, la sce`ne e`trit inoubliable.>> Julian Price

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1898.

Location. 59° 37.522′ N, 135° 8.323′ W. Marker is in Atlin, British Columbia, in Stikine Region. It is on no nearby street. The marker is along the Chilkoot National Historic Trail route near St Andrew's Church overlooking Lake Bennet. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Atlin BC V0W 1A0, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northern BC.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 23 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Andrew's Church (a few steps from this marker); Bennett (within shouting distance of this marker); Fraser (approx. 11.3 kilometers away); a different marker also named Fraser (approx. 11.6 kilometers away);

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell

2. Me`n Cho`Bennett Lake Marker

Pitch Fork Falls (approx. 17.8 kilometers away in the U.S.); Asaayíx' Kudziteey Haa Léelk'u Hás Aaní (approx. 20.8 kilometers away in the U.S.); Skagway Remembers (approx. 21.2 kilometers away in the U.S.); Before the Gold Rush (approx. 21.2 kilometers away in the U.S.). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atlin.

Also see . . .
1. Bennett and Lindeman: Tent Cities on the Lakes. Klondike stampeders set up camp along the shores of Lake Lindeman and Lake Bennett during the winter of 1897-1898. These men, women and children had managed to drag and carry tons of provisions over the harsh trails down to the lakes, which formed the headwaters of the Yukon River. The crowd had to wait for the river ice to break before they could sail down the Yukon into Dawson. Some stampeders stayed at Lake Lindeman, the end of the Chilkoot Pass, many more kept moving down the trail and set up camp at Lake Bennett, which was also the terminus of the White Pass trail. (Submitted on June 18, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

2. The Historic Chilkoot Trail. By fall 1897 there was a good wagon road from the

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell

3. Me`n Cho`Bennett Lake Marker

Dyea beach to the first crossing of the Taiya River. Without a bridge, stampeders had to ferry their supplies across for a fee. The road continued on the east side of the river before a ford back across to the west side. (Submitted on June 18, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 18, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 130 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 18, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.