The Mascot Saloon: Archeological Investigations in Skagway, Alaska

Summary

A group of buildings built between 1898 and 1904 cover a series of archeological deposits associated with the Mascot Saloon, the longest lived saloon operated by the same owner at the same location in the gold rush town of Skagway, Alaska. Built during the gold rush, and then continuing to cater to the working class men of this railroad and

shipping port until local prohibition in July 1916 the Mascot Saloon witnessed all phases of saloon life. A thorough contextual history explores the multitude and types of saloons in Skagway throughout its pre-Prohibition years; the effects of reform movements throughout Southeast Alaska on liquor licensing, pricing, gambling, and women in saloons; the influence of the declining economy on the saloons; and the incidence of crimes in the saloons. Once the context is set, a detailed history of the Mascot Saloon follows. Especial attention is paid to correlating historic photographs of known dates to maps of the archeological investigation grid.

The horizontal stratigraphy on the site was excellent, and allowed the archeologists to separate gold rush from post-gold rush era deposits. The gold rush saloon (1898 - 1899) served a much larger proportion of whiskey in bottles than it did beer or wine; snacks of nuts were served; meals with beer were common; the stampeders were free with their money; women were present in the saloon. After the gold rush (1900 - 1904), more beer in bottles appeared in the archeological collections; the nut snacks were replaced by free lunches, including clam chowder; while beer remained popular,

the less expensive mutton appeared on the menu more frequently; money grew tighter and not so many coins and tokens were lost; the women left the saloon. During both time periods on this urban frontier, flasks were not used for social

drinking in the saloon, but for private drinking in the work yard or the privy.

The post-1904 period at the Mascot Saloon barely exists in an archeological context, and then only as construction or structural debris. Research themes include adjustments in consumption habits from boom times to ordinary times, the mining frontier's interactions with markets to the south, and changes in social relationships during the reforms of the Progressive era. The insights glimpsed at the Mascot Saloon make a contribution beyond the field of Alaskan archeology.

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): U.S. Department of the Interior; National Park Service; Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park

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