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Experience the Living History of Barkerville!

Join Wells Gray Tours on this 3-day tour, departing from the BC Interior on July 19, as we journey into the past and explore part of the Gold Rush Trail and experience the living history of Barkerville Historic Town & Park! Bring your grandchildren for an added dose of Gold Rush fun and make new memories as you explore together.

Located on Williams Creek in the shared ancestral territories of the Dakelh (Carrier) and Secwépemc (Shuswap) Peoples in eastern British Columbia, Barkerville was once the biggest boom town in the province. The town, named after William ‘Billy’ Barker, was founded in 1862 after the discovery of significant gold deposits in the area. In the video below, James Douglas from Barkerville Historic Town & Park, explains briefly why Barkerville was the ‘jewel in the crown of the Cariboo Gold Field’ and its role in B.C.’s beginnings. 

A journey through Barkerville Historic Town & Park. Video from BC’s Cariboo Chilcotin Coast.

Designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1924 and a Provincial Heritage Site in 1958, Barkerville is today, according to Barkerville Historic Town & Park, a “unique streetscape of more than 125 heritage buildings, period displays, satellite museums, restaurants and shops” and is now the “largest living-history museum in western North America.” But what truly makes this historic town and park so unique and fun to visit is that history comes alive with the delivery of educational programming by the Historical Interpreters who cover all aspects of Gold Rush life, including, but not limited to: mining, the early justice system, schooling, domestic life, as well as the stories and roles of the Indigenous Nations with shared territory in this area and the culture and practices of the Chinese during this time period.

There is so much to see and do on your visit! Enjoy a guided walking tour of the town and then spend the rest of the day exploring at your own pace. Walk through the many historic buildings, watch a show at the Theatre Royal, enjoy a stagecoach ride around the town, learn to gold pan (and keep what you find!), watch the gold cleanup at the Cornish water-wheel, listen to Judge Begbie, or enjoy a tasty treat at the Goldfield Bakery. If you would like more information or want to book with us on this tour, please click here to view the tour itinerary or contact one of our offices at 1-800-667-9552. 

Overview of Barkerville Historic Town and Park.

Video credits:

A journey through Barkerville Historic Town & Park from BC’s Cariboo Chilcotin Coast.
Barkerville Historic Town & Park promo from Barkerville Historic Town & Park. Video created by Golden Raven Attractions and 6ix Sigma Productions.