Visiting 100 Mile House and the outlying area is a perfect opportunity to discover some of the historic and heritage sites that are reminders of the "Gold Rush Days" of the late 1850s.
Ten thousand would-be miners made their way into BC's heartland via the Fraser River. They disembarked at Lillooet and headed overland to the gold fields in Barkerville. A wagon road was soon built with station houses every 10 or 15 miles. Almost immediately, the Barnard Express and Stage Line was established carrying people and freight.
Portions of the Cariboo Wagon Road can still be seen along Highway 97 north from 100 Mile House for about 37km/23mi. Travelers can stop in at the South Cariboo Visitor Centre for an excellent self-guided tour brochure.
Ranching History
Ranching quickly took root in this fertile area, which reduced the need for freight. The 83 Mile House Farm Equipment Museum and Historic Site, on Highway 97 just 20 minutes south of 100 Mile House, contains a fascinating array of antique farming equipment. This private collection displays the equipment both inside and outside of original log buildings from a time when the site was a busy station house. The 83 Mile House Museum is open year-round and entry is by donation.
Red Coach Inn
Originally named Bridge Creek House, 100 Mile House was renamed because it was 100 miles from Lillooet, mile 0 of the Gold Rush Trail. The station house, or road house, was an important supply stop and rest station along the Gold Rush Trail. One of the few remaining Barnard Express stage coaches can be seen on display outside the Red Coach Inn on Highway 97 at the north end of town.
108 Mile Heritage Site
Ten minutes' north of 100 Mile House on Highway 97 is the 108 Mile heritage site. Seven of the buildings are original to this station, but several, including a trappers' cabin and a one-room school house, have been relocated there in an effort to preserve them. The site also contains one of Canada's largest log barns and two stores selling western clothing, crafts and refreshments.
Tours of the main house are available and take about an hour. The rest of the grounds are open for self-guided tours. RV parking, picnic tables and public washrooms are nearby. The site is open after Canada's May long weekend (usually the third week in May) and then from June 1st to mid September. Entry is by donation.
For more information on the history and heritage of the South Cariboo, stop in at the Visitor Centre.
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