The Klondike Gold Rush happened in the 1890 's when many people went to a river in Canada called Klondike who hoped to find gold there and become rich . The Klondike Gold Rush , sometimes referred to as the Yukon gold rush , was a frenzy of gold rush immigration to and for gold prospecting , along the Klondike River near Dawson City , Yukon , Canada after gold was discovered there in the late 19th century . In total , about 12500000 o have been taken from the Klondike area in the century since its discovery .