During the Klondike Gold Rush, Skagway was a lawless town with about 80 taverns. After an 1899 law required a substantial licensing fee, most saloons closed including the Mascotte. But new management soon reopened as the Mascot Saloon and began serving male-only customers beer, liquor, cigars and access to secret gambling rooms. In 1974, the National Park Service purchased and remodeled the tavern to its original appearance including artifacts from the early 1900s.
