 Kitwanga Fort National Historic Site Few remains exist at Kitwanga Fort National Historic Site, a fort that once housed five cedar-plank longhouses within its walls.
Many of the original buildings still stand in Walter Wright Pioneer Village and Northern Pacific Historic Fishing Village, a reminder of their thriving past.
There has been a revival of Haida culture on the Queen Charlotte Islands. Visitors to remote Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site can interact with Haida Gwaii Watchmen and learn more of this living culture at Anthony Island, Hotspring Island, Tanu, Windy Bay and Skedans.
Fort St. James National Historic Site
Fort St. James was first established in 1806 on behalf of the North West Company as a fur trading post. This fort, now a National Historic Site, was often referred to as "the Siberia of the fur trade."
With a self-guided tour map and costumed docents in the reconstructed and original buildings to answer your questions, you'll journey back into Canada's fur trade during the 1890s.
Fort St. James National Historic Site is located off Highway 27, on the shores of Stuart Lake in the community of Fort St. James.
A word or two on your visit:
- Admission fee in effect
- Approximate time required: 1.5-2 hours
> Fort St. James Historic Site website
Walter Wright Pioneer Village
At the Walter Wright Pioneer Village you're transported to Dawson Creek the way it was prior to the construction of the Alaska Highway. Stroll along boardwalks into replica and original buildings that line the streets of this once-bustling frontier town. There is also a tribute to the Sudeten people of Germany, who fled Nazi Germany in 1939 to forge a new life farming the nearby land. A highlight of the village is its eleven themed gardens.
Walter Wright Pioneer Village is located on Highway 97 in Dawson Creek.
A word or two on your visit:
- Admission by donation
- Approximate time required: 1 hour
Northern Pacific Historic Fishing Village
Northern Pacific Historic Fishing Village is one of the few remaining cannery villages left on the West Coast. Covering 18 ha (45 ac), these historical buildings house live performances and offer cozy lodging should you wish to take in the beautiful scenery of Port Edward. Guided tours explain the cannery process, fishing methods and lifestyles of the multicultural workforce that once lived and worked here.
This historic village is a 25-minute drive southeast from Prince Rupert.
A word or two on your visit:
- Admission fee in effect
- Approximate time required: 2-4 hours
> Northern Pacific Fishing Village website
Huble Homestead Historic Site
Located along the scenic Fraser River in Giscome Portage Regional Park, this historic site started out as a small business along the trade route of Giscome Portage, linking the Arctic and Pacific watersheds. A costumed interpreter will take you on a tour of the original 1912 dovetail log house and other heritage buildings for a first-hand look at this bustling enterprise which grew to include freighting, guiding and selling of goods to homesteaders in the area.
This site is also a picturesque location for a picnic lunch.
Huble Homestead Historic Site is a 45-minute drive north of Prince George via Highway 97.
A word or two on your visit:
- Admission by donation
- Approximate time required: 1-2 hours
Kitwanga Fort National Historic Site
All that remains of this 18th-century fortified village is a large, steep-sided mound known as Battle Hill. There's a viewing platform adjacent to the highway or you can take the trail leading to the summit of the hill. While interpretive signs explain the site's historical background, you'll learn more about the fort's Aboriginal significance on a trip to the nearby village.
Kitwanga Fort National Historic Site is a 90-minute drive from either Terrace or Smithers, near the junctions of Highways 16 and 37.
A word or two on your visit:
- No admission fee in effect
- Approximate time required: 30 minutes - 1 hour
> Kitwanga Fort website
Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site
Located in the southern part of the Queen Charlotte Islands, with no roads and few facilities, Gwaii Haanas is only accessible by boat or chartered aircraft.
Visitors to this remote and wild area will be overwhelmed by the diversity of species on land and sea. It's estimated that 750,000 seabirds alone nest along the shoreline from May through August.
Basecamps at the islands' most popular heritage sites are staffed by the Haida Gwaii Watchmen, who help visitors understand Haida culture and at the same time protect the land and culture of the Haida People.
A word or two on your visit:
- Visitors must register and attend an orientation session in Queen Charlotte City or Sandspit prior to arrival as this is a remote wilderness with variable weather conditions
- Park reservations strongly recommended
- Keep travel plans flexible and be prepared for delays caused by unfavourable weather
A word or two on safety:
- Preferred travel is with organized tour groups or commercial operators
> Gwaii Haanas website
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