Chase the Gold Rush to Barkerville, BC, Canada
An 1800s BC Ghost Town in the Heart of the Interior Cariboo Region
Oct 30, 2008
In the interior of British Columbia, a small town transports visitors back to the late 1800s. The gold rush town of Barkerville is the only Canadian historic site where visitors can stay overnight and immerse themselves in the frenzy of gold fever.
Barkerville, British Columbia: Canadian Gold Rush History
In 1862, Billy Barker discovered a huge strike of gold on Williams Creek, drawing thousands to the future town of Barkerville. Although towns sprang up around various gold discoveries, Barkerville emerged as a supply center. The original town burned down in 1868, but townsfolk quickly rebuilt and Barkerville continued to thrive as the heart of the gold region.
Nearly 150 years later, most of the smaller gold mining towns have disappeared but visitors can get an excellent sense of this unique era at the Barkerville historic site. With more than 125 restored buildings and a bustling main street filled with costumed actors, Barkerville welcomes visitors yearly between mid-May and September.
Historical Reenactments in Barkerville
Barkerville offers visitors a wide range of authentic experiences. Talented actors bring historical characters to life and retell some of the town’s most notable events. The town is a living and working exhibit of gold-rush life between 1869 and 1885. There are many activities to spend a whole day or more in the town. Visitors can:
- Take a lesson at the schoolhouse
- Listen to the rulings of Judge Begbie, BC's "hanging judge"
- Tour the Chinese cemetery
- Explore Canada's oldest Chinatown
- Sample candies and treats at the bakeries and shops
- Pan for gold at El Dorado
- Experience 1800s home life at the Wendle House
- Take in a church service at St. Saviour’s
- Ride the stage coach through town
- Watch the blacksmith at work
- Learn about 1870s technology at a Cornish water wheel demonstration
- Enjoy the shows at the Theatre Royal
Traveling the Cariboo Waggon Road
The Cariboo Waggon Road (which is historically spelled with the double-g) was built to connect the remote gold rush towns to the southern centers. Starting in Yale, BC, the road winds up through river canyons then onto Barkerville. Completed in 1865, the road earned the moniker “Eighth Wonder of the World”.
To travel the historic road, walk south of the town to Richfield and then continue on to Summit Rock, which marks the end of the steepest portions of the road.
Staying Overnight in a Barkerville Hotel
A variety of accommodations offer the opportunity to stay overnight in this historic site:
- Kelly and King House bed-and-breakfasts: Restored homes within the town site welcome guests to a taste to 1800s luxury. Claw-foot tubs and feather beds make these kids-friendly bed-and-breakfasts a great place to bunk.
- St. George Hotel: This hotel sits on Barkerville's main street as a restored saloon and brothel. Fine china, antique furniture, and historic decor create an authentic stay in the gold-rush town.
- Barkerville Campgrounds: Before the towns were built, canvass shelters provided the first protection to the intrepid miners. For those willing to rough it, pitch a tent at one of three camping areas during the warmer months.
As Barkerville attracts many summer-time visitors, availability of accommodation can be limited. Either book early, or try seeking alternate accommodation in nearby Wells, BC.
How to Get to Barkerville, BC
From Vancouver, first travel north 670 km (416 miles) to Quesnel, then a further 85 km (53 miles) west to Barkerville. The town site lies just past Well, BC—another mining town.
Park at the town gate and then head on in to explore the gold rush days of the Cariboo.
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