the klondike gold rush happened in the 1890s when many people went to the klondike region of the yukon, in canada. they hoped to find gold there and become rich. many of these prospectors came from the united states. gold was first found in klondike in a creek called rabbit creek. prospectors named the creek "bonanza creek" because of the gold ("bonanza "means a lucky source of wealth). four million dollars worth of gold was found.