History : Prince Rupert, BC, Canada
Northern British Columbia

Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada History

Prior to the arrival of the Europeans, the Tsimshian First Nation people occupied the land and sea surrounding the village of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. The traditional lands of the Tsimshian bordered the native lands of the Haida, Gitxsan, Nisga'a and Heiltsuk First Nations. Each nation had its own unique dialect, customs and history. The coastline had many villages lined with large cedar post-and-beam log houses fronted by Totem Poles and hand carved canoes.

Today the same Totem Poles can still be viewed while exploring on a guided tour visiting some of the remote villages along the coastline. The Tsimshian people are known around the world as master carvers and great story tellers.

There are five significant Tsimshian archaeological sites dating back to the ice age on Laxspa'aws (Pike Island) which can be viewed taking a guided tour with the people of Tsimshian First Nation.

Prince Rupert was a cousin of Charles II of England and was the first Governor of the Hudson Bay Company. Starting in 1910 the Europeans started to arrive by rail attracted by the booming fishing industry. Charles Hayes and his Grand Trunk Railroad (later becoming the Canadian National Railway) was the big player of the day developing a major rail terminal servicing the west of Canada.

Today, the Kwinitsa Station Railway in the Rotary Waterfront Park is a good reminder of the prime rail days and the fish cannery attraction in Port Edward is a reminder of the fishing industry of yesteryear.

Prince Rupert was said to be the first planned city in British Columbia. Development was progressing nicely, until Hayes was invited on a cruise aboard the RMS Titanic... well, his fate was sealed when the Titanic sank in 1912. The project continued and soon later the CNR Docks were completed and Prince Rupert became one of the most successful rail and sea ports on the west coast of Canada.

The area of Prince Rupert is rich in heritage buildings dating back to the early 1900's like Smiles Restaurant (1922), Atlin Terminal (1933), JavaDot Cup (1912), Capital Theatre (1928) and Pillsbury House (1908).