Whitehorse Experiences

To the north an eerie, sulphurous sheen begins to ripple into the night sky. It arcs itself into an ebb and flow, slowly growing, then suddenly bursts across the full expanse of the night sky waving and dancing as if it were happy. It?s the spectacular and mystical Northern Lights and viewings such as the one above are common in the Yukon.

Northern Lights viewing activities take place outside the city. A heated, cozy cabin or wall tent is available for your comfort. There will be a campfire outside as well for you to sit around, roast marshmallows and enjoy the quiet and clear winter night.

Climb aboard the S.S. Klondike, one of Canada’s few remaining steam-powered paddlewheelers, and learn how life on the rivers of the Yukon has changed over time. Long before and after the first steam-powered riverboat travelled up the Yukon River, Indigenous peoples have travelled the riverways of the Yukon. The arrival of paddlewheelers in the 1860s brought change to the territory, carrying newcomers and their ways of life, and until 1950 the riverboats continued to serve as the main link between the Yukon and the outside world.

The Yukon Transportation Museum brings transportation history in Canada’s rugged Yukon Territory to life. With a variety of indoor and outdoor exhibitions, we share glimpses and glimmers of the Yukon’s character through the stories of people moving themselves, their possessions, and their ideas around the vast landscape and harsh scenery of the north.

Located in Yukon’s capital city near the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport, we are a charitable non-profit organization and home to a variety of fascinating exhibitions and displays including retired modes of transportation (like the Canadian Pacific Airlines DC-3 Wind Vane), miniature displays, art exhibits and a treasure trove of photographs, artifacts and tall tales. We host periodic live events and community programs throughout the year, as well as curate and maintain the ever-popular Mile 917 Gift Shop, stocked with unique souvenirs, local art and educational toys.

You will discover the rich traditions of the Indigenous people that shaped transportation in this territory, marvel at the construction of the world-famous Alaska Highway and soar with the early bush pilots through crisp (and sometimes harrowing!) northern skies. The Yukon Transportation Museum will guide you through Yukon’s stories of love, loss, riches, ingenuity, adventure, fear, separation, joy and determination. These preserved stories and artifacts illustrate how and why we have been moving over this land for thousands of years.