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From 1858 to 1870
thousands of miners set out on the Gold Rush Trail, seeking fortunes on
the Fraser River and, later, in the goldfields of the Cariboo. Yale, now
only a two hour drive east from Vancouver, was the head of navigation
for paddlewheel steamers following the Fraser River inland from the coast.
Prospectors and all their supplies literally had to "hit the trail" here,
heading north through the spectacular Fraser Canyon.
Yale also became
the starting point of the Cariboo Wagon Road when it was constructed between
1862 and 1865 by the Royal Engineers. This narrow, treacherous track had
to wind and creep along the cliffs of the Canyon until the less mountainous
terrain of the British Columbia interior was reached. Stagecoaches and
freight wagon teams were prepared and refurbished at Yale -- even camels
were tried for a while!
In 1863 the Church
of St. John the Divine was built to serve the miners and tradespeople.
It has remained practically the same inside ever since!
Historic Yale is
in the centre of town, and includes the Church and grounds and the Historic
Yale Museum.
Historic Yale is
only a 15-minute drive north from Hope on the Trans-Canada Highway 1.
The site is right beside the highway as it goes through Yale. Even if
you're going east via Highway 3, it's a convenient side trip. If you're
visiting Kilby Store & Farm, just stay on Highway 7 until it reaches its
junction with Highway 1 on the north side of Hope.
Please call for
our current opening times.
Group tours can
be arranged - just give us a call.
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