Michael Gates talks about his personal background, education at the University of Calgary, coming to the Yukon in 1971, Alan Innes-Taylor, graduate school, training at the National Museum in conservation in their conservators-in-training program, working for Parks Canada in Ottawa, the cataloging process, starting his job as curator of collections in Dawson in March 1978 (Dawson Historical Complex National Historic Site), funding for the program, material in their collection, buildings, dredges, the Commissioner's Residence, exhibits, inventory control, finding replicas appropriate to the period, striving for historic accuracy, maintaining original intent and exhibit inventory, dealing with environmental concerns to protect exhibits, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, nationally significant buildings, working with the Dawson City Museum Society, his wife, Kathy Gates, the Chilkoot Trail designated as an international cooperation, moving to Whitehorse in 2000 and working as the cultural integrity specialist, Commemorative Integrity Statements, cemetery restoration, cultural resources on the Chilkoot Trail, artifacts being removed from the trail, the church at Bennett, designation of national historic significance for the Chilkoot Trail in 1987, people traveling from Skagway to Dawson, Dalton Trail story, original trade use of the trail, his articles for the Yukon News and inspiration for topics, retirement, traveling down the Dezadeash River with Ron Chambers, what he enjoyed about his work with Parks Canada, period historic restoration, history and fact, the archaeological survey for part of the Klondike Highway, archaeology work on the Chilkoot Trail, and his involvement with the Dawson City film project.