Fort Langley History
A Summary of the birthplace of BC
Fort Langley, also known as the "birthplace of British Columbia," became a National Historic Site located in Langley, British Columbia. It was established by the HBC in 1827 as a fur trading post and a center for bartering with aboriginal peoples.
The HBC selected the site for the fort because of its strategic location at the confluence of the Fraser River and the Nicomekl River. The area was also home to the Kwantlen and other Original Nations people, who traded with the HBC for furs, salted salmon, and other goods.
Fort Langley quickly became an important hub for the HBC's operations in the Pacific Northwest, and also played a key role in the development of the British Columbia colony. The fort served as a center for trade, diplomacy, and cultural exchange between the HBC, aboriginal peoples, and settlers.
In 1858, following the Fraser River Gold Rush, the British government established the Colony of British Columbia, with Fort Langley as its administrative center. The fort became a focal point for the development of the new colony, with its craftsmen and traders supplying the growing population with goods and services.
Over time, with the decline of the fur trade and the gold rush, Fort Langley lost its prominence. In 1923, the HBC sold the fort to the province of British Columbia, which eventually became a National Historic Park in 1955. Today, the Fort Langley National Historic Site is restored to its 1850s appearance and is a popular tourist attraction, offering visitors a glimpse into British Columbia's rich historical events as a center for trade, commerce, and cultural exchange.
The Original Inhabitants of the Land
The Kwantlen Nation is a First Nations community located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada. Their traditional territory encompasses the area along the Fraser River, which runs through modern-day Greater Vancouver.
The local indigenous people have a rich and ancient history that dates back thousands of years. They were traditionally fishing and hunting people, relying on the abundant resources of the Fraser River and the surrounding forests and wetlands.
Despite facing colonization and displacement, the Kwantlen people have maintained their culture and traditions through the centuries. Today, the Kwantlen Nation is a thriving community with over 200 members, and is recognized by the Canadian government as a "status Indian band".
The Kwantlen Nation is actively involved in economic and community development projects, with a focus on sustainable development that respects the environment and honors their cultural heritage. They operate a number of businesses, including a gas station, farm, and eco-tourism company. The Kwantlen Polytechnic University, which is located on the traditional territory of the Kwantlen Nation, is also named after the community.
The Kwantlen Nation is committed to sharing their knowledge, culture, and traditions with others, and regularly participates in cultural events and educational initiatives around the Lower Mainland. The are reviving their language, Halkomelem, which is one of the Coast Salish languages from the region.
The Gold Rush of the Fraser River
In the spring of 1858, James Douglas, the prominent Hudson's Bay Company official, sent 800 ounces of gold to the San Francisco Mint, knowing that the news of the gold's arrival would spread quickly in the gold-focused city. The supervisor of the mint was also a member of the local volunteer fire department, and within hours of the fire department's next meeting, rumors of a new gold discovery began to circulate.
By late spring of 1858, prospectors started arriving in Victoria and New Westminster, British Columbia, and over the next few months, thousands traveled up the Fraser River and into the interior in search of gold. At the time, the small settlement of Fort Victoria had a population of no more than 500 immigrants, mainly Hudson's Bay Company employees, farmers, and their families. However, within two months, the population grew to over 20,000 as Victoria transformed into a tent city, with miners purchasing their mining licenses and stocking up on supplies before journeying to the gold fields.
The Fraser Canyon War
There were real tensions between the influx of miners and the Nlaka'pamux, the Indigenous people living in the heart of the Fraser Canyon. The Nlaka'pamux nations wanted a negotiated agreement with the miners and the Colony of British Columbia before allowing the miners to enter their traditional territory upstream of Yale.
The Fraser Canyon was the homeland of the Nlaka'pamux, who did not want the miners to explore further upriver into their lands until an access agreement could be reached. This led to a series of brief but violent clashes, known as the Fraser River War. During this conflict, a number of Aboriginal towns were ransacked and burned, and men, women, and children were killed.
The violence only ended with the arrival of Governor James Douglas and the Royal Engineers in Yale, who were able to restore some semblance of order between the miners and the Nlaka'pamux. The conflict highlighted the need for the colonial government to negotiate with the Indigenous peoples before allowing unfettered access to their traditional territories.
British Columbia as a Colony
Concerned about the loss of territory to the American government due to the influx of miners during the California gold rush, James Douglas petitioned Queen Victoria to establish a colonial government in the region known as New Caledonia. The petition was granted, and in 1858, New Caledonia was renamed British Columbia and proclaimed a crown colony at Fort Langley, with James Douglas being named the first governor.
From 1851 to 1864, James Douglas served as the Governor of the Colony of Vancouver Island. In 1858, he also became the first Governor of the newly established Colony of British Columbia, a move intended to assert British authority during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush. Douglas remained the governor of both Vancouver Island and British Columbia until his retirement in 1864, and he is often referred to as the "Father of British Columbia" for his leadership during this pivotal time.
By 1857, both American and British settlers were responding to rumors of gold discoveries in the Thompson River area. This sparked a massive influx of prospectors, with estimates of ten to twenty thousand men moving into the region around present-day Yale, British Columbia, within a very short period of time. This rapid population boom was the beginning of the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush.
The Fort Through the Years
1811
An American company named Pacific Fur Company arrived by ship to Astoria, Oregon, and immediately began construction on a fur trading fort.
1812
The War of 1812 broke out, and, in a panic, the Pacific Fur Company liquidated its assets to the Northwest Company. The Northwest Company was HBC’s biggest rival.
1818
The Treaty of 1818 allowed US and UK joint occupation and settlement of the Columbia District, which included Southern BC, Washington, Oregon, and parts of Idaho and Montana.
1821
Britain enforces the HBC's monopoly over the fur trade in North America. The Hudson’s Bay Company absorbed the Northwest Company, including the post at Astoria. In fear of losing the Astoria trading post to Americans if a border was established, the HBC left to seek out a more northern location.
1827
Construction began on a new location of an HBC fort at Derby Reach, chosen for the abundant fish and agricultural land.
1831
The Hudson’s Bay Company began pickling salmon for export. They were moving away from the fur trade and diversifying into farming with the goal of being self-sufficient. The HBC acquired 2000 acres of land to pursue this goal.
1839
The HBC fort was moved to its current location because of its proximity to their farmland. The previous location was inevitably going to erode into the Fraser River, as it was built on a floodplain. After construction was finished, the new fort burned down and was rebuilt the following year.
1857-1927
The Fraser Canyon gold rush was underway, and Fort Langley was a main hub for prospectors to travel through to Lytton, where gold was found.
1858
The gold rush was the catalyst for Britain to claim BC as a crown colony to avoid US annexation. It was made official on November 19, 1858. The following year, the capital was moved to New Westminster, as it was a more defensible location.
1867
Canada became an independent country.
1886
The fort closed their doors and moved to a small storefront on Carrall and Cordova until they opened their current location on Granville and Georgia seven years later. The Mavis family bought a parcel of land from the HBC, which included the storehouse, which they used as a barn.
1888
The Fort Langley Cemetery opened and replaced the burial grounds at St. George's Parish.
1901
St. George’s Parish was constructed after years of services being held in different locations around the village of Fort Langley and the village of Derby.
1917
Prohibition began in BC on October 1, 1917, and continued until June 15, 1921. Prohibition law continued in the US until December 5, 1933.
1915
Canada’s second transcontinental rail line was built by the Canadian Northern Railway, and the passenger train station was completed in Fort Langley. Eventually, Canadian National Railway bought Canadian Northern Railway and many other rail companies.
1923
The government of Canada bought the fort's location to preserve it as a heritage site. Several buildings were reconstructed.
1930
The Fort Langley Community Hall was built.
1932
The original Jacob Haldi Bridge finished construction.
1980
The CN station ceased operations and was permanently closed. The building was moved 240 meters down the tracks three years later.