Can you help us put the historic Klondike at the heart of our new museum?
Introducing our Gigs Might Fly campaign
We are launching a fundraising campaign to help raise the £35,000 we need to install the Klondike gig at the centre of our new Cultural Centre and Museum.
Our vision for the atrium of the Town Hall is to have this beautiful, historic gig suspended in a cradle from the ceiling, creating a stunning welcome for visitors and using the space to share some of the islands’ gig rowing tradition.
We believe that with your help - and the help of other people who love Scilly and care about the history of our gigs - we can raise the money to ensure our iconic gig remains at the heart of the new museum. Read on to find out more…..
The fully rigged Klondike, built 1877, was the centrepiece of the old Isles of Scilly Museum on St Mary’s and much loved by visitors and locals alike. She was one of the earliest gigs to be built, and though her sails are borrowed finery from her fellow gig Czar, she is certainly an icon of the islands.
Klondike was built by Mr WM Gluyas of St Mary’s for the use of Customs Officers. She cost £33.18.0 to build and was used until 1897, when she was sold for £8 to the Bishop Rock Lighthouse attendant on St Agnes.
The name Klondike was then given to her in place of her original number. She was used for lighthouse reliefs and pilot work for many years.
The gig was eventually acquired by Lt. Commander T. M. Dorrien Smith and presented to the Museum. The sails, which belonged previously to the gig Czar were presented by the people of Bryher.
Explore the story of moving the Klondike
The closure of the Isles of Scilly Museum in 2021 meant finding storage space for all of our collection. Islanders, including the Fire Brigade, rose to the challenge of moving the Klondike and this was captured on video.
We are enormously grateful to our friends at the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company who are donating to this campaign by keeping her safely in storage for free.
Why can’t we include this in the main project costs?
We had always planned that the Klondike should take pride of place in the new museum in the Town Hall, but cost overruns on the project mean some key elements of the work are under threat.
The costs of installing the Klondike run to £35,000 to create a new cradle suspending here in the building and set her in place.
We believe that with your help, and the help of other people who love Scilly and care about the history of our gigs, we can raise the money to ensure our iconic gig remains at the heart of the new museum.
Share your stories
We know that we only have insight into some of the stories of the Klondike - she has had a rich and storied past, including a rumoured stint during WW1!
If you have stories to share about the Klondike’s part in Scilly’s gig rowing history, we would love to hear from you.
Email director@scillyartsandheritage.com to set up a call.