Dawson began as a seasonal fishing camp for the Tr’ondek Hwech’in and shot to fame during the Klondike Gold Rush, when tens of thousands of hopeful prospectors swarmed in, leaving behind historic buildings, gravel tailings, and the massive Dredge No. 4. Though the boom faded and the town later lost its capital status to Whitehorse, Dawson has reinvented itself with a lively arts and culture scene, inviting restaurants and bars, summer markets and fairs, and a wealth of outdoor adventures from hiking and biking to dog sledding and river trips. And no visit is complete without heading up to the Midnight Dome for sweeping views of the Yukon wilderness.