The history of British Columbia covers the period from the arrival of Paleo-Indians thousands of years ago to the present day. Prior to European colonization, the lands encompassing present-day British Columbia were … See more

The first European visitors to present-day British Columbia were Spanish sailors and other European sailors who sailed for the Spanish crown. … See more

The arrival of Europeans began to intensify in the mid-19th century, as fur traders entered the area to harvest sea otters. Although technically a part of British North America, … See more

Both the depressed economic situation – arising from the collapse of the gold rushes – and a desire for the establishment of truly See more

Human history in what has come to be known as British Columbia dates back thousands of years. Archaeology finds in British Columbia have been dated to as early as 13,543 years ago, with some exciting potential for underwater sites beginning to be … See more

In 1858, gold was found along the banks of the Thompson River just east of what is now Lytton, British Columbia, triggering the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush See more

Since the days of the fur trade, British Columbia's economy has been based on natural resources, particularly fishing, logging and mining. … See more