Barkerville Historic Town

National Historic Site Of Canada And The Largest Heritage Site In Western North America; The Gold Rush Town Of The Cariboo, With Over 100 Buildings On Their Original Sites · Barkerville, British Columbia

In 1862 a Cornishman named Billy Barker sank a shaft on Williams Creek and hit gold at about fifteen metres, and within a few years the town that took his name was one of the largest settlements north of San Francisco. THE CARIBOO GOLD RUSH built a street of false-fronted wooden buildings on a creek four hundred kilometres up a wagon road from the Fraser, and it burned down in 1868 and was rebuilt in six weeks. A very large Chinese community lived and worked here, with its own stores, benevolent association building and temple, and that part of the story is told properly rather than as a footnote. The town faded, was bought by the province in 1958 and restored, and today MORE THAN A HUNDRED BUILDINGS STAND ON THEIR ORIGINAL SITES - the largest heritage site in western North America. In summer it is a working street: costumed interpreters, a stagecoach, a bakery, the Theatre Royal, and a Chinatown that is among the best preserved in Canada.

14301 Highway 26, Barkerville, Cariboo Regional District, Barkerville, British Columbia, Canada

SEASONAL, WITH A LONG SUMMER AND A VERY DIFFERENT WINTER. THE FULL PROGRAMME - costumed interpretation, the Theatre Royal, the stagecoach, working shops and most restaurants - RUNS ROUGHLY LATE MAY OR EARLY JUNE TO LATE SEPTEMBER, on daily hours. ADMISSION IS CHARGED IN THE SUMMER SEASON and a ticket has commonly been valid for two consecutive days, which is worth knowing because one day is not enough. OUTSIDE THE SUMMER SEASON THE TOWNSITE REMAINS OPEN TO WALK THROUGH at reduced or no charge, but the buildings, the interpretation and most services are closed - in winter it becomes a cross-country skiing destination with a handful of things open. HIGHWAY 26 FROM QUESNEL IS PAVED and maintained year-round, about an hour and a half. Confirm the current season dates and rates before travelling.

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