Wyatt Earp in Alaska

The famous lawman looking for gold.

Michael R Dougherty

Aug 31, 2025

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The above is a portrait of Wyatt Earp

Our story begins in Wrangell, Alaska

Wyatt Earp was one of the most famous lawmen in the American West. Most have heard of the 1881 gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.

Sixteen years later, after leaving Arizona, Wyatt and his wife, Josephine “Sadie” Marcus Earp, had decided to head north to Alaska to cash in on several of the gold rushes.

But Wyatt wasn’t looking to get rich on the end of a pick and shovel. Instead, he would be “mining the miners” by setting up a saloon and gambling operation.

The Marshall of Wrangell, Alaska

In the photo above is Wrangell, Alaska, in 1898.

On their way to Nome in 1897, Wyatt and Josie stopped in Wrangell, where Earp took the interim job of town marshall until the new full-time marshall arrived.

Wyatt wore the badge for only 10 days.

On Their Way to Nome

After leaving Wrangell, Wyatt and Josie ended up in Rampart, Alaska, which is located on the south bank of the Yukon River, about 100 miles northwest of Fairbanks.

The two had to spend the winter in Rampart because the Yukon River was frozen over.

Wyatt Earp and the Nome, Alaska Gold Rush

While Wrangell, Alaska, had been rougher than Tombstone, Arizona, according to Wyatt, things were just as tough in 1898 Nome.

One of the big draws to the Nome gold rush was the idea that you could just “walk along the beach, bend over, and pick up gold nuggets.” So, there was a crush of people in Nome looking to get rich.

Wyatt’s Nome Saloon

Dexter saloon in Nome, owned by Wyatt Earp.

Wyatt’s Nome saloon, was called the Dexter. It was located on Front Street in Nome.

The Earps decided to attract a “higher class” of customers with an upscale saloon and gambling establishment.

Business was good, but the Earps only operated the saloon during the summer months.

The two spent winters outside of Alaska, probably in California, where he had some mining claims.

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Did Wyatt Earp Lose His Gun in Alaska?

What may be Wyatt Earp's gun on display at the Red Dog Saloon in modern day Juneau, Alaska.

Pictured above may be Wyatt Earp’s gun

The caption above reads:

“This weapon was checked in at the U.S. Marshall’s office in Juneau, June 27, 1900 by the notorious gunfighter Wyatt Earp. Earp departed for Nome aboard the S.S. Senator at 5:00am on June 29th prior to the opening of the marshall’s office.”

This story may have some “fuzz” on it (it may or may not be true), but here goes.

It’s not known for sure, but when Wyatt Earp and his wife, Josie, were passing through Juneau, Alaska, Wyatt had an encounter with some U.S. Marshalls.

The marshalls told Earp that they needed to confiscate his gun while he was in town. But he could get his gun back just before he boarded his steamship.

However, his steamer left Juneau before the U.S. Marshall’s office opened. So, Wyatt’s gun was left unclaimed.

Nowadays, you can see the unclaimed gun, which is on display at the Red Dog Saloon in Juneau.

Is the gun on the wall at the Red Dog Saloon really Wyatt Earp’s?

You decide.

Wyatt Earp’s Alaska Days

Yes, Wyatt Earp was in Alaska following his rise to fame after his shootout at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona.

And like we stated a little earlier, the story of his time in Alaska does have some “fuzz” on it.

Following his “mining the miners” adventure in Nome, Alaska, Wyatt and his wife, Josie, left Nome and returned to California with around $80,000, or $2 million in today’s dollars. Not bad.