Fort St James Historic Sites & Interpretive Centres

Fort St. James was built by the North West Company in 1806, the second permanent fur trading post established west of the Canadian Rockies. The fur trade was a thriving and powerful industry in British Columbia’s past and Fort St. James succeeded to become the region’s headquarters, also serving as a distribution centre to surrounding outposts for incoming goods from eastern Canada and Europe. Fort St. James ceased operations in 1952.

Restored to its 1896 way of life, the site protects the largest group of original wooden fur trade buildings in the country. Fort St. James welcomes visitors to step back in time and discover the stories waiting inside the revived buildings, furnished as they were in the late 19th century. Learn about the relationship between the traders and First Nations and discover what life was like for the people who worked and lived within the fort walls. Demonstrations, costumed interpreters, displays and interactive exhibits reveal an important part of Canada’s history that spans approximately 150 years.

The Fort St. James National Historic Site is open from the Victoria Day long weekend in May to the end of September. A visitor centre, souvenir shop and café are on-site.