The George Johnston Museum

09/20/2026

GJM Signage Update!
It's done; it pops; and it matches our roof! Once again, thank you to our wonderful hard working volunteers that made it happen!
(Photo Source Dorothy Cooley)

09/20/2026

A noted Teslin trapper goes visiting...
That looks like a moccasin'd Peter Fox somewheres away from his home community. It's probably either Atlin or Whitehorse. Does anyone recognize the log building behind Mr Fox? We're suspecting that the building was of some importance.
Sadly, the photographer and exact date are unknown. However it is believed to be the 1930s.
(Photo Source: George Johnston Museum Archives)

09/16/2026

Our season may be over... but the work never stops. A big thank you to Dan Marvin and Dorothy Cooley for taping and painting the GJM sign.
Such wonderful volunteers are an integral part of our small town!
(Photo Source: M Hodgson)

09/12/2026

Pre-Chainsaw...
Its the late 1920's and Teslin men cut these 38 cords of wood for a gold mine on the south end of Taku Arm. The Engineer Mine was staked in 1898 with its productive heyday lasting until 1930.
This particular photo was sent to one of the Johnston brothers and noted with pride the amount of wood cut and loaded on the barge.
Sadly, the photographer and year are unknown.
(Photo Source: GJM Archives)

09/09/2026

To Teslin via the All-Canadian Route...
An old waybill from 14 February 1898 for merchandise heading from Wrangle Alaska to Glenora BC and then up to Teslin Lake. The goods are described as 9 packages of merchandise loaded on sleds.
This was the very difficult all Canadian route to the Dawson gold fields.
On the 29 March 1898, the waybill is marked returned. Did this mean they didn't make it? Or were the empty sleds returned to the owner in Glenora?

(Photo Source: Private Teslin Collection)

09/09/2026

09/06/2026

Who is this mysterious lady sitting out at the woodpile?
It's an orphan photo without a name, date or photographer. But it did come from a collection of Teslin photos from the 1930s. So the young woman is probably Teslin Tlingit.
She appears to be wearing store-bought finery... and is that a wedding ring?
As always... any help identifying this young woman would be (and always is) greatly appreciated.
(Photo Source: GJM Collection)

09/02/2026

Teslin Holds Potlatch....
Yesterday we received a copy of the 1978 obituary of Maggie Jackson.
(Scroll back to August 19th and you will see a photo of a somber Mrs Jackson as her grandchildren leave for residential school in Carcross.)
The obituary is a wonderful read of a life well lived. It relates one interesting story of gold seekers building a boat named "Bella of Teslin" down the lake at Johnston Town. They asked a very young Maggie cut the ribbon while a lady smashed a bottle of whiskey against the hull for good luck.
Wow! What ever happened to this boat? Did the “Bella of Teslin” ever make it to Dawson?
A big thank you to Nora Geddes in providing this wonderful glimpse into our history!
(Photo Source: Nora Geddes)