Historic & Heritage Sites

Gold Panning in Barkerville Historic Town, BC Heritage/Leif Grandell photo
Gold Panning in Barkerville Historic Town, BC Heritage/Leif Grandell photo

British Columbia's historic sites don’t include medieval castles or ancient temple ruins. Instead, most heritage sites in BC tell stories of determined people that carved out lives among a landscape of gigantic mountains, thick forests and the vast Pacific Ocean.

Ninety-one National Historic Sites, ten Provincial Historic Sites and three UNESCO World Heritage sites provide a wide range of experiences, many of them interactive and at well-maintained, restored locations.

Hop in a stagecoach and pan for gold at Barkerville Historic Town, or ride a clattering rail car at the Britannia Mine Museum. Learn about fur traders at Fort Langley National Historic Site and fishermen at the North Pacific Cannery. The Kettle Valley Rail Trail follows a historic route through tunnels and over trestles – cycle a section or hop on the 1912 Kettle Valley Steam Railway.

Other historic sites in BC are off the beaten path – perfect for adventurous types with vivid imaginations. Step in ancient dinosaur tracks at Tumbler Ridge, or hike to the Burgess Shale and uncover bizarre fossils in Yoho National Park. Wander through weathered wood cabins in ghost towns such as Sandon. Or, tread softly between massive Haida First Nations mortuary totem poles on the Queen Charlotte Islands.

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1. 3 Valley Gap Heritage Ghost Town - Revelstoke

Property Logo Trans Canada Hwy 1
Revelstoke, British Columbia
V0E 2S0

Experience life in the 1800s while exploring over 25 historic buildings in our Heritage Ghost Town. These restored & fully furnished buildings have been gathered from around BC and assembled near the site of the original town of Three Valley, which swelled & subsided in the 1880s. Highlights of your visit will include the Antique Car Museum, Monashee Mining exhibit and a huge Railway Roundhouse - home to steam engines, railway coaches and the largest covered turntable in North America. The Heritage Ghost Town is located next to Three Valley Lake Chateau Ltd., an extraordinary resort destination on the Trans Canada Hwy.

2. Barkerville Historic Town - Barkerville

Property Logo 14301 Hwy 26
Barkerville, British Columbia
V0K 1B0

Barkerville is the largest heritage site in Western North America, and a National Historic Site of Canada. Founded in 1862, Barkerville is an adventure destination like no other; rich in history, full of life. Meet colourful characters from Barkerville's past, watch Judge Begbie hold Victorian criminals accountable, see authentic gold rush theatre & witness a Cornish Waterwheel in action. Pan for gold, visit exotic Chinatown, go to school 1800s-style, or tour the town at your own pace while visiting 140+ historic buildings & displays. Barkerville's merchants, restaurants & accommodations will provide everything you need for a genuinely comfortable trip into BC's golden age.

3. Britannia Shipyard National Historic Site - Richmond

Property Logo 5180 Westwater Dr
Richmond, British Columbia
V7E 6P3

Britannia Shipyard National Historic Site is an authentic representation of a once thriving community of canneries, boatyards, residences & stores. Tour the oldest shipyard buildings in BC & observe ongoing boat restoration projects in this active waterfront park along the Fraser River. Explore exhibits and take part in programs that interpret life on the river and the experiences of the multicultural community that called Britannia home.

4. Clayburn Comforts Soap & Body Works - Abbotsford

Property Logo 34866 Clayburn Rd
Abbotsford, British Columbia
V2S 7Y9

Inspired by the restoration of our heritage home in historic Clayburn Village, our soap bricks are hand poured individually, in small batches, for consistency & excellence. We specialize in natural products made with vegetable-based ingredients and therapeutic grade essential oils, including deodorants, solid hand creams, foot, skin and baby care. Try our wonderful Travel Easy 3-in-1 bar: shampoo, conditioner, body soap - all in one light, compact travel tin. Earth friendly with a convenient cotton cord for hanging indoors or out. Enriched with herbs and essential oils for fabulous hair and skin - it's all you need!

5. Craig Heritage Park & Museum - Parksville

Property Logo 1245 East Island Hwy
Parksville, British Columbia
V9P 2E5

Step back in time at the Craig Heritage Museum. Take a trip into yesteryear and see how our early settlers lived. This unique grouping of period buildings & area artifacts makes Craig Heritage Park a museum with a difference. The tools, utensils, fashions & curios of an earlier time, plus an extensive archival collection chronicling the lives of Vancouver Island pioneers. The Craig Heritage Park is a place to visit the past & to gain a very real glimpse of the way life was experienced by those who came before us.

6. Craigdarroch Castle - Victoria

Property Logo 1050 Joan Cres
Victoria, British Columbia
V8S 3L5

Victoria's legendary landmark. Experience the lifestyles of the rich & powerful at the end of the 19th century. Completed in 1890, the Castle is now a historic house museum. Lavish Victorian era furnishings and decor, exquisite stained glass and detailed woodwork carved by artisans of days gone by... These all combine to create a warm and expansive entertainment experience. When you're finished, take time to browse the Gift Shop and relax in the newly restored (2010) grounds before moving on to your next destination. Open daily for self-guided tours.

7. Fort Langley National Historic Site - Fort Langley

Property Logo 23433 Mavis Ave
Fort Langley, British Columbia
V1M 2R5

Explore this exciting 1800s fur trade post where you are the explorer. Like discovering a time capsule, step inside the buildings, and feel what it was like to be there.

Make a deal for furs on the very spot, where First Nations people traded salmon, furs, and cranberries for Hudson's Bay Company goods. Sign a proclamation where British Columbia was proclaimed a colony.

Visit with costumed interpreters, watch blacksmithing and barrel-making demonstrations and simply explore!

Enjoy cultural exhibits, a gift shop, Full Barrel Café (summer) & much more. (Toute notre programmation est aussi disponible en français).

8. Fort Rodd Hill & Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site - Victoria

603 Fort Rodd Hill Rd
Victoria, British Columbia
V9C 2W8

Located 15 minutes west of downtown Victoria, these adjacent national historic sites offer acres of meadows and spectacular views of Esquimalt Harbour and Juan de Fuca Strait. Stroll along the ramparts of 3 coast artillery gun batteries built over 100 years ago. See original guns, intriguing underground magazines and camouflaged searchlight emplacements. Step inside Canada's oldest West Coast lighthouse. Play with its brand-new interactive exhibits. While the kids investigate our tide pools or enjoy our new hand held spy game program, it's time to sit back and enjoy the moment. Check out our many special events throughout the year.

9. Fort St. James National Historic Site - Fort St. James

Property Logo 280 Kwah Rd W
Fort St. James, British Columbia
V0J 1P0

One of the most spectacular heritage sites in Canada, situated on the shores of Stuart Lake. Fort St. James is the largest collection of original wooden buildings representing the Fur Trade in Canada and appeals to young and old with family activities for everyone.

Living history programs daily. Costumed park interpreters deliver experiences for all ages. Special events on most weekends in summer. Sunday afternoon teas all summer long. On-site heritage accommodation available. Full service cafe and visitor centre.

Try the new Xplorers program for kids or visit the NEW refreshed museum exhibits.

10. Fort Steele Heritage Town - Fort Steele

Property Logo 9851 Hwy 93/95
Fort Steele, British Columbia
V0B 1N0

With gold rush beginnings in 1864, Fort Steele has gone from boom town to regional centre to ghost town and is now one of the most important heritage attractions in British Columbia. The town site features over 60 buildings. Activities vary by season and include ice cream making, horse-drawn wagon tours, steam train rides, gold panning lessons, live theatre, museum displays and various demonstrations. See many varieties of heritage breed livestock. Fort Steele is perched on the western slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

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