The old barn at my parents’ property contained its fair share of treasures. One interesting item my dad found in there was a framed photograph of a steamship making its way through a narrow channel. There weren’t any accompanying details, and my dad was curious to know more, so he brought the picture to one of the Nanaimo Historical Society’s Show & Share events. Members and guests bring artifacts, stories, and memorabilia to discuss, and he was wondering if anyone could identify either the ship or the location.

Parker Williams, a retired marine engineer, immediately suggested Five Finger Rapids on the Yukon River as a location where the photo might have been taken. Other members with connections to the west coast’s shipping industry strongly agreed. And they were absolutely correct!

Someone who worked for Yukon Tourism and Culture saw my online post asking about the photo and she also confirmed the location as Five Finger Rapids. She suggested reaching out to the Yukon Archives in Whitehorse for help with identifying the ship. I was in touch with Yukon historian Murray Lundberg, who identified the steamboat as the W.K. Merwin. Finally, the mystery was solved!

The W.K. Merwin was a sternwheeler than carried passengers and freight on the Yukon River during the Klondike Gold Rush. She was originally built in Seattle in 1883 and worked for a time on Puget Sound and on the Skagit River before being abandoned. To meet the demand of those rushing to the Klondike, she was put back into use. She was towed up the coast to the mouth of the Yukon River and she arrived in Dawson City in 1898. The W.K. Merwin was wrecked on the beach at Nome, Alaska in August 1900.

Once I knew more details about the photo, I was able to find it online. It’s a photograph taken by Eric A. Hegg from around 1898, and it is in the collection of the Museum of History & Industry in Seattle. A photographer based out of northwestern Washington, Hegg joined those rushing to the Klondike, setting up photography studios in Alaska, first in Dyea and later in Skagway. In the summer of 1898, Hegg headed to Dawson City, travelling north on the Yukon River in a boat with a homemade darkroom onboard. I wonder if the photo of the W.K. Merwin is from that trip.

On the drive from Whitehorse to Dawson City, the Five Finger Rapids Recreation Site was a must-see for me. We spent about an hour making our way down (and then slowly back up again!) the 219-step staircase that takes you to a viewing platform. Even though I didn’t have my dad’s picture with me, I wanted to see if I could get a modern-day photo of relatively the same spot.

According to the Government of Yukon’s website, the name “Five Finger Rapids” comes from the four islands that split the river into five channels. The rapids were a major obstacle for those heading to the Klondike, and only one of the channels was deep enough for sternwheelers like the W.K. Merwin. Sometimes ships even had to use a cable attached to the rocks to winch themselves upstream. Starting in 1900 and continuing until about 1927, blasting was done to widen the channel.

If you’re looking to visit a historical landscape as well as stretch your legs a little during the long drive between Whitehorse and Dawson City, I recommend you stop in at Five Finger Rapids.