Historic Structure Report: YMCA Gymnasium
Shaffer R, Crosby G, Lyon R. 2011. Historic Structure Report: YMCA Gymnasium. Historic Structure Report. U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office. Anchorage, Alaska
This Historic Structure Report (HSR) documents the YMCA Gymnasium building located within the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park (KLGO) and the Skagway and White Pass District National Historic Landmark in Skagway, Alaska. The Young Men’s Christian Association came to Alaska along with the Klondike stampeders. William Reid, sent by the YMCA from Kalamazoo, Michigan to found a branch in Dawson, Yukon Territory, Canada, was traveling through Skagway in 1898. The gymnasium was built on land leased from the Presbyterian Church and directly behind the church on Fifth Avenue. The YMCA Reading Room remained in the church. The YMCA Gymnasium functioned as a place of recreation. The YMCA’s national aim was to improve the mental and physical health of both men and women. This fostered other community lecture series and a debate series. The preferred treatment recommendation for the YMCA Gymnasium in Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park is restoration of the exterior to the 1901 gymnasium appearance and rehabilitation of the interior to provide a contemporary use for the National Park Service. The final use has not been determined at this time. Successful restoration of the exterior and rehabilitation of the interior will require immediate stabilization measures to the foundation, roof and north wall to prevent further deterioration.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Shaffer, Rebecca; Crosby, Grant; Lyon, Robert
- Date of Issue
- 2011-08-02
- Publisher
- U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Alaska Regional Office
- Units
- AKR , KLGO
- Keywords
- Presbyterian church, Skagway, William Reid, YMCA
- Subjects
- CRIS-HS: 783208: YMCA Gymnasium