Historic Yale

During the second half of the 19th Century, historic Yale, British Columbia was home to thousands of miners who set out on the Gold Rush Trail, seeking their fortunes in the goldfields of the Cariboo. Yale 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 on the Cariboo Wagon Road. This engineering marvel, constructed between 1862 and 1865, was a narrow treacherous track that wound 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 for the long journey - even camels were tried for a while.

Yale was an important strategic point during construction of Canada's first transcontinental rail route, the Canadian Pacific Railway. One of the greatest engineering challenges of the line had to be faced when Andrew Onderdonk directed the task of creating a rail bed along the sheer canyon walls north of the town.

Today, you can visit this once bustling community and explore its rich history. Take in the Church of St. John the Divine, built in 1863, one of the oldest churches in British Columbia. The Yale Museum has many fascinating displays which are sure to intrigue you.

Where You'll Find Us

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 traveling via Highway 3 or 5, it's a worthwhile side trip. If you're visiting Kilby Store and Farm, just stay on Highway 7 until it reaches its junction with Highway 1 on the north side of Hope.

Want More Information?

Historic Yale is managed by the Yale and District Historical Society. For further details please contact the Society by:

E-mail: ydhs@uniserve.com
• Phone: (604) 863-2324
• Fax: (604) 863-2495
• or by regular mail:

Yale and District Historical Society
P.O. Box 74
Yale, BC
Canada V0K 2S0

Special web link:

The Gold Rush Town of Yale is a Canada's Digital Collections website that provides a comprehensive look at Yale during the Fraser River Gold Rush of 1858 and the construction of the famous Cariboo Wagon Road.