Heritage Sites | History
Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast Region, British Columbia, Canada

Heritage Sites: The history captured in the pioneer heritage homesteads, mining villages,, historic trails and First Nation villages located in the hills, valleys and mountains of the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast region of British Columbia, Canada is plentiful. Much of the history of the region on display is recognizing the Cariboo Gold Rush days of the late 1800s, the Alexander MacKenzie Grease Trail and the First Nations people.

Almost every community displays their history in some form or another. Historic sites in the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast region is no different. Some historic sites operate as working villages or homesteads with rows of settler buildings and pioneer actors. In other areas the buildings and artifacts are part of a self guided walking tour exploring the town and/or a park.

Some of the, more recognized, historic attractions are located on the Heritage Highway (Hwy #26) near the community of Quesnel in the heart of Gold Pan Country. Located on the Heritage Highway is a working farm with pioneer actors called Cottonwood Homestead, a community named Wells filled with heritage buildings and a historic heritage site named Barkerville. Barkerville is a Cariboo Gold Rush village with working stores, streets filled with heritage buildings, a China Town and working pioneer actors.

It does not stop there. Historic Sites and points of interest associated with the Cariboo Gold Rush Trail are marked throughout the region. The entire route covers 642 kilometres (400 mi.). The Cariboo Road was built by blasting through the Fraser Canyon so to reach the goldfields in Barkerville. Along the Cariboo Wagon Road many, what was called back then, "Mile Houses" were built along the route servicing the miners. All the "MIle Houses" were named by how far they were located from the community of Lillooet including the 108 Mile Heritage Site near 100 Mile House.

First Nation history is also remembered in the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast region by honoring culture and traditions with art, ceremonial pit houses, long houses and monuments. It starts with the ancestors of the First Nation people who left pictographs located on rock boulders and canyon walls. Most of the First Nation villages of today in the region have Totem Poles, wood carvings and paintings on display. Some out in the open while others in museums and art galleries.

Much of the region's roads are based on the same routes taken by the early pioneers when they were navigating the valleys, grasslands and mountains of the region for an east-west passage or when searching for gold. The Alexander MacKenzie Grease Trail is another route following in the same steps as the pioneers. It explores many valleys, lakes, rivers reaching the coast via a long 400+ kilometre backpacking or horseback riding trail. It is marked at both ends with a monument.