Historic & Heritage Sites
Heritage buildings (Picture BC photo)
Originally founded in 1827 as a Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) trading post on the shore of the Fraser River, Fort Langley preserves its historic and heritage sites nearly 200 years later.
The most notable one is Fort Langley National Historic Site, the official birthplace of British Columbia, where history comes alive.
Fort Langley National Historic Site
Enclosed in a dramatic riverside stockade, the current incarnation of Fort Langley National Historic Site (23433 Mavis Ave) dates to 1840. The fur trading post was rebuilt after an 1839 fire, and now features a striking combination of reconstructed and original buildings.
At its peak, Fort Langley sold produce to Russians in Alaska, shipped cranberries to California, and generated 2,000 barrels of canned salmon a year, much of which was exported to Hawaii. Touch soft beaver and black bear pelts, watch barrel-making and blacksmithing demonstrations and chat with interpreters in period costumes.
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Circa 1858, Fort Langley became renowned as a jumping-off point for the Fraser River Gold Rush and panning for gold here remains another fun experience for the entire family.
An historic highlight is the hilltop Big House, where Sir James Douglas proclaimed British Columbia a Crown Colony on November 19, 1858 and became the province's first governor. View vintage china, musical instruments and other furnishings, and browse through a display upstairs on the local Kwantlen First Nations. Don't miss the servants' quarters and the gift shop in the visitor centre nearby.
Fort Langley operated until 1886, and was declared a National Historic Site in 1955. It is open daily year-round (closed Dec 25 and 26, and Jan 31), and is directly adjacent to the historic village of the same name.
Fort Langley CN Station
For railway buffs, this heritage train station is an intriguing diversion. Built in 1915, designated a municipal heritage site in 1983 and opened for visitors in 1985, the CN Station has been extensively restored by the Langley Heritage Society. It originally served as part of the Canadian National Railway system, and sits next to an old train track, although this is not the original location of the station.
Today, the Fort Langley Artists Group stages art exhibitions in the former baggage room. Nearby, check out the CN Caboose's model railroad displays, a vintage velocipede and a restored 1947 passenger rail car.
Located at the corner of Glover Road and Mavis Avenue, the CN Station is open from May to September with volunteer staff. Check with the Langley Visitor Centre for seasonal hours.
Other Historic & Heritage Sites
Fort Langley has many other historic sites, all within walking distance of one another. Stroll by the Jacob Haldi House, which now offers fine dining as the Bedford House Restaurant; the Pioneer Cemetery, the final resting place of many early settlers and HBC employees; and the 1897-built Church of the Holy Redeemer on McMillan Island.
Visit Fort Langley's museums like the Langley Centennial Museum and the BC Farm Machinery & Agricultural Museum, and uncover more of its culture and history.
To learn more about the historic and heritage sites of Fort Langley, pick up a copy of the Langley Heritage Society's self-guided walking tour pamphlet at the Langley Visitor Centre.
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23433 Mavis Ave
Fort Langley, British Columbia
V1M 2R5
Websitehttp://www.parkscanada.gc.ca/fortlangley
Toll-free
Phone604-513-4777
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).
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