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| The current grave marker |
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| An unidentified person decorated Soapy's grave |
Since
his death in July of 1898 the grave site of Soapy Smith has gone through five known grave markers. Why so many? They
were stolen, shot at, blown up, vandalized and replaced. Each marker has it's own unique story.
If only they could talk.
| The first marker, 1898 - 1901 (+-) |
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| Art Petersen Collection |
This is the first grave marker. This photograph was probably taken by Rev. R. M. Dickey
in July of 1898. It was replaced or stolen sometime after 1901. Note that there is no difference between this marker and the
one at the top of this page. This marker seems to have remained undamaged between 1898 and 1901, whereas the later markers
received more than their fair share of graffiti. Considering that Soapy Smith was very unpopular after his death and anyone
in the least association with him was kicked out of town, there is a question as to why this marker's font was so much
fancier than the fonts on all the other graves in the gold rush cemetery of the same period. July 20, 1908 this marker was
stolen from the cemetery and has not been seen since.
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| The second marker, 1901 (+-)- 1927 |
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| Jeff Smith Collection |
The second marker was placed on the
grave sometime after 1908. There are hundreds of carved names that were etched into this marker while it stood over Soapy's
grave giving testament to the time it was up and the popularity of visiting his grave. One of the markings has a date of 1917.
This marker is believed to have been up in 1919
when a massive flood washed Soapy's body out to sea. The marker was found and placed back on a site as close to the original
gravesite as possible. In 1927 Harriet Pullen received $50 from Tom Kearney asking that she fix up the grave. She had a nice
marble headstone made and exchanged it for the wooden marker which she placed on display in her hotel along with other Klondike
gold rush memorabilia. It resided in Harriet Pullen's care until 1973 when it was sold John Randolph Smith,
a grandson of Soapy. It was handed down to Jeff Smith in 1987.
| The third marker, 1927 - 1950s |
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| Cement marker paid for by a friend of Soapy's |
This is the third marker. The marble
headstone paid for by Tom Kearney and placed there by Harriet Pullen in 1927. Martin Itjen became the graves caretaker starting
in the 1930s. There were several postcards showing this marker as it appears to the right and later with a metal cage over
it. This marker became target practice for vandalism and gun practice.
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| Marker #3 with a protective cage |
This
is believed to be the above marker (#3) encased in a protective wire cage. Note that the lettering matches the locations of
the one above. The letters are dark, so perhaps they may have been painted. A postcard of this marker had a postmark of June
21, 1954 so we know it was up in that year. It is believed this marker was eventually blown up with dynamite.
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| Marker four, 1950s -1997 |
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| A nice fence placed around the site |
This
is the forth marker. The date of it's placement is unknown, however there is a photograph showing this particular marker dated 1966. It was made of metal with a
wood border with a wooden post and metal pipe fence around the perimeter of the grave. The fencing still exists.
Looking just below the pipe closest to the photographer you can see the bottom portion where marker #3 was originally
located.
| Marker four in need of replacement |
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| July 8, 1974, first annual Wake |
The forth marker in 1974 at the very first annual Soapy Smith Wake, in poor condition and ready for replacement.
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| The fifth marker, 1997 - present |
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| Authentic replica of the second marker |
The fifth marker is actually a reproduction of the second marker. Jeff Smith photographed and measured
the second marker in his possession, believing it was the first marker and James Richards of Skagway had the copy made. It
was placed on the grave in 1997.
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| 2008 |
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| Replica of the first marker, Whitehorse Ranch |
The last
marker is a replica of the very first one placed on the grave, however, this one is not on Soapy's grave in Skagway, Alaska
but rather placed in the memorial cemetery grounds at the Whitehorse Movie Ranch in Landers, California. It was made by artist
Jerry "Judge" Gargolione. It was unveiled erected in a ceremony on July 8, 2008 the 110th anniversary of Soapy's
death.
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or text may be used without prior written consent.
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