To Museum

To Museum. . , Martin Itjen used Smith's Parlor and legend to entertain and amaze, giving viewers a glimpse into early gold rush days. He even recreated Smith at the bar with drink and gun in hand., Martin Itjen (pronounced itchin') , Itjen, like Soapy, arrived during the gold rush. When the rush ended, he stayed. Itjen loved to share the legend of Soapy Smith and other stories from the 'wild days' of Skagway. He saw tourism as a way to save his town and make a living., By the 1930s Itjen operated Jeff. Smiths Museum, Skagway tours, and an undertaking business. Martin's unique museum and streetcar creations brought his stories to life. His charm and savvy took him to Hollywood to promote Skagway. While there, he even rubbed elbows with movie star Mae West., Mr. Itjen really went all out for tourism in Skagway...but he was just a ham at heart and was really playing it up, and he loved it, and they loved him." , Virginia Barfield, 1975, local business owner and former city magistrate, [Photo captions, counterclockwise from top left, read] , . [Card above tour bus photo reads] , Martin with his street car, for a fifty cent fare, , Will tell you when and show you where , The High Spots were, for he was there. , He'll start at nine and takes till noon , To show you Skagway in the Klondyke boom; , If you miss this, you have missed it all , And have not seen Alaska at all. , Take a bite if you can't take it all., . [Portrait of] Martin Itjen 1870-1942, . Martin built life-size animatronic figures to astonish his guests. When visitors entered, Soapy would welcome them by turning his head and raising his glass., . Itjen took his streetcar and Soapy to meet Mae West in Hollywood, 1935., . Skagway is home to Martin and his wife Lucy Itjen's gravesites along with Martin's largest "gold" nugget in all of Alaska.