To Treasure

To Treasure. . , Friends of Itjen's, George and Edna Rapuzzi took over the museum after his death and later moved the building to this location. Thankfully for us they kept everything!, George and Edna Rapuzzi , Born at the tail end of the gold rush in 1899, George Rapuzzi grew up in Skagway, steeped in history and community. His family ran a small grocery around the comer from here., In 2007, the entire Rapuzzi collection containing four buildings, including Jeff. Smiths Parlor, and over 30,000 items, was purchased by the Rasmuson Foundation and then donated., [H]e was just a little guy who collected stuff...and had all these stories. , Jeff Brady, 2010, author and former editor of the The Skagway News, THE STORY CONTINUES , In 2008, the National Park Service became the next caretaker of Jeff. Smiths Parlor Museum and its stories., After multiple moves, many additions, and years in the elements, the building and artifacts needed a lot of work. Following an eight year restoration, the museum reopened in 2016. A Skagway treasure continues., And this is probably the last collection, the last assemblage of this kind of memorabilia or artifacts of history that we have left in the state of Alaska. And so it's very important to our community and really the entire state of Alaska." , Jerry Fuchway, 1990, former Skagway tourism director, [Photo captions, counterclockwise from top left, read] , . [Uncaptioned photo of George and Edna Rapuzzi], . George Rapuzzi 1899-1986, . George continued to operate the same streetcars created by Martin Itjen, . [Historic sign] For a GLIMPSE of SKAGWAY'S EXCITING PAST, VISIT THE SOAPY SMITH MUSEUM, . Soapy still at the bar in 1950., . [The Parlor] 2008, prior to restoration