1959

Downtown Whitehorse

This 1959 aerial view of Whitehorse shows the airport hanger and air terminal as well as many other buildings including the one to the far left where Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh stayed in their July 1959 visit.

1959

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip

Rolf and Marg Hougen meet Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip during their visit to the Yukon. FH Collins looks on. Prince Phillip went to Dawson City alone as the Queen was not well. A reporter wrote a story that…

1958

Alaska-Grand Prairie Microwave System

At the official opening of the Alaska-Grand Prairie Microwave System built by C.N. Communication, Prime Minister Diefenbaker speaks to President Kennedy in celebration of the opening.

1958

Paddlewheelers

The paddlewheelers Keno, Whitehorse, Casca, Aksala, and the Klondike in their winter quarters. The small boats Loon and Yukon Rose are on the left.

1958

Prime Minister Diefenbaker

Prime Minister Diefenbaker visited the Yukon. He took one day to go fishing at Kathleen Lakes. Rolf Hougen, who also went fishing, took this picture at Haines Junction.

L to R:
Brig. Jones, PM Diefenbaker, Erik Nielson

1958

Prime Minister and Mrs. Diefenbaker

Prime Minister and Mrs. Diefenbaker visit Yukon and are hosted by the Whitehorse Board of Trade.

L. to R. : Bill Walker, President - to the left of Mrs. Diefenbaker, F.H. Collins, P.J. Nielsen, Rolf Hougen, Mrs. Gordon Cameron, Jim…

1958

Whitehorse Rapids

The Whitehorse rapids of Jack London fame. They were destroyed when Northern Canada Power Commission built the hydro-electric dam.

1957

City Council

Being sworn in as City Councillor's is L to R - Mayor Gordon Armstrong, Bill Hamilton, Bill Drury, Jim Norington and Tom Bain.

1957

George Black

When George Black a young lawyer came to the Yukon at age 25, he staked a claim on Livingstone Creek. He worked on the riverboats but then opened a law practice in Dawson. In 1905 he was elected to the…

1956

Casca River Boat

This photo is a good illustration of how the River Boats, here the Casca, are winched up each fall on the ways and relaunched each spring in early May.

1956

Governor Vincent Massey

In 1956 Governor Vincent Massey, the first Canadian Governor General, visited Whitehorse. He was hosted in the RCAF officers mess by Commissioner and Mrs. F.H. Collins.
Among the guests of 300 were chief Frank and Mrs. Sydney of Teslin,…

1956

S.S. Klondike

This photo shows the Klondike at Mayo about to load the silver concentrate that has been mined, concentrated, and bagged at the Elsa Mill for transport by the Stewart and Yukon River to Whitehorse where it was loaded on the…

1956

Whitehorse Docks

A scene of the City of Whitehorse from the Indian graveyard on top of the hill across the river. In the foreground are the B.Y.N. docks & warehouses where the train brought freight from Skagway and loaded it in the…

1956

Yukon River Boats

The Casca, the Keno and the Yukon Rose in winter quarters. Because it was smaller, the Keno travels up the Stewart River to Mayo to pick up the bags of silver concentrate from the United Keno Mine in Elsa.

1955

Air Force and the Army

Both the Air Force and the Army had messes. If you were invited to become an associate member, the Commander would accept your attendance in suit and tie, once. Then they required you to wear black tie formal wear but…

1954

Casca Paddlewheeler

The paddlewheeler river boat "Casca" being launched from Winter Rest. The whole high school would rush to the shipyards when the whistle sounded to announce a launch. Rolf Hougen took this photo in 1947.

1954

Federal Building

The new Federal Building officially opens. W.G. Brown, Commissioner, Aubrey Simmons M.P. and Mayor Gordon Armstrong officiate the ceremonies.

1954

Lounge on the Klondike

When the road was opened to Mayo, the effect on the river boats was devastating. Rather than ship the Keno Hill silver ore by boat, they now trucked it to Whitehorse and then by White Pass Rail to Skagway. This…

1954

Mayor Armstrong

Mayor Armstrong addresses the crowd on Remembrance Day in front of the Federal Building where the cenotaph is located. Behind him is M.P. Aubrey Simmons, Commissioner Wilf Brown, Wing Commander Pearce, Bishop Greenwood.

1954

Paddlewheelers

When the paddlewheelers were loaded with freight and passengers at the docks at the foot of Main Street, the boat would go upstream, maneuver and turn around and then head downstream for Dawson City, a three-day trip. The return trip…

1954

The Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh visits Whitehorse. He went for a river trip on the newly remodeled Klondike as far as Lake Lebarge. In this photo is Rolf Hougen on the boat, 5th from right with the camera.