when was the fraser river gold rush

When did the Fraser Canyon gold rush start?

The Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, (also Fraser Gold Rush and Fraser River Gold Rush) began in 1858 after gold was discovered on the Thompson River in British Columbia at its confluence with the Nicoamen River a few miles upstream from the Thompson's confluence with the Fraser River at present-day Lytton.

What was the first gold rush in British Columbia?

Fraser River Gold Rush. In 1858, around 30,000 gold seekers flooded the banks of the Fraser River from Hope to just north of Lillooet in British Columbia’s first significant gold rush.

Why is the Fraser River important to British Columbia?

The Fraser River was the site of the first gold discovery in British Columbia. This started what was referred to as the Fraser River gold rush which brought in miners from California and other places across the world. Today the river and its creeks still have gold waiting to be discovered by prospectors.

Is there still gold in the Fraser River?

This triggered a major gold rush and in less than one year there were more than 30,000 miners along the banks of the Fraser River between Lillooet and Hope trying their luck. Today, some of the early mining centers along the river still have some gold that prospectors can discover.

When did the Fraser River gold rush start and end?

1858Fraser Canyon Gold RushThe New Eldorado: "A Complete View of the Newly Discovered Goldfields"Duration1858 – c. 1927LocationFraser Canyon, British ColumbiaTypeGold rush

When was gold discovered in the Fraser River?

An Indigenous family mining for gold at the confluence of the Thompson and Fraser Rivers near Lytton, around 1890. Gold was first discovered by the Nlaka'pamux, previously called the Thompson River Indians, in the early 1850s.

Why was the Fraser River gold rush important?

In 1858, approximately 30,000 miners, many of them Americans, flocked to the shores of the Fraser River in search of gold. In response to this influx, Britain created the colony of British Columbia, formerly the mainland district of New Caledonia, so that British law and authority could be maintained in the region.

Where was the most gold found in the Fraser River?

The major gold producers on the Fraser River included Boston Bar. This particular area was one the places where gold mining took place along the river and gold concentrations were particularly rich.

Who started the Fraser Gold Rush?

the FRASER RIVER GOLD RUSH – 1858 In the spring of 1858, James Douglas sent 800 ounces of gold to the San Francisco Mint knowing what word of the gold's arrival would trigger. There are no secrets in a gold town and the supervisor of the mint was also a prominent member of the San Francisco volunteer fire department.

When did the gold rush start in Canada?

Join Britannica's Publishing Partner Program and our community of experts to gain a global audience for your work! Klondike gold rush, Canadian gold rush of the late 1890s. Gold was discovered on Aug. 17, 1896, near the confluence of the Klondike and Yukon rivers in western Yukon territory.

When was gold discovered in BC?

In the 1800s, a series of world gold rushes renewed peoples' passion for gold. People struck it rich in Australia, California, and then in the colony that would become British Columbia. The whole world arrived when gold was discovered on the banks of the Fraser River in 1858.

Is there still gold in the Fraser River?

The gold rush led to the growth of mining towns along the Fraser River, and this same region still produces gold today. Gold is found throughout the river system, but there are a few noteworthy locations where rich deposits were first discovered.

When was gold discovered?

Gold! On January 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold on the property of Johann A. Sutter near Coloma, California.

Who discovered the Fraser River?

The upper reaches of the Fraser River were first explored by Sir Alexander Mackenzie in 1793, and fully traced by Simon Fraser in 1808, who confirmed that it was not connected with the Columbia River.

Is there still gold in BC?

The British Columbia Geological Survey's MINFILE database lists over 3,380 occurrences for which gold is identified as the primary commodity. Of these, approximately 700 have recorded gold production (400 lode producers and 300 placer).

Can you gold pan on the Fraser River?

Fraser Canyon River Ranch is an anglers paradise located along the Middle Fraser River, surrounded by snow capped mountains and canyon vistas. We offer Sturgeon, Salmon, and Trout Fishing day trips and multi day all inclusive fishing packages as well as Gold Panning and Rock Hounding.

Is there gold in the Fraser River?

The gold rush led to the growth of mining towns along the Fraser River, and this same region still produces gold today. Gold is found throughout the river system, but there are a few noteworthy locations where rich deposits were first discovered.

How much gold was found in the Fraser River?

By the mid-1860s, the Fraser Rush collapsed, and British Columbia sank into a recession. In 1858, around 30,000 gold seekers flooded the banks of the Fraser River from Hope to just north of Lillooet in British Columbia's first significant gold rush....Fraser River Gold Rush.Published OnlineNovember 27, 2006Last EditedAugust 9, 2019Aug 9, 2019

When was gold discovered in BC?

In the 1800s, a series of world gold rushes renewed peoples' passion for gold. People struck it rich in Australia, California, and then in the colony that would become British Columbia. The whole world arrived when gold was discovered on the banks of the Fraser River in 1858.

Is there gold in the Fraser River in Colorado?

Today, some of the early mining centers along the river still have some gold that prospectors can discover. Most of the gold here is finer textured, although sometimes a nice gold nugget can be found.

What was the cause of the Fraser Canyon War?

During the fall of 1858 , tensions increased between miners and the Nlaka'pamux, the First Nations people of the Canyon. This led to the Fraser Canyon War. Miners wary of venturing upriver beyond Yale began to use the Lakes Route to Lillooet instead, prompting Douglas to contract for the building of the Douglas Road, the Mainland Colony's first public works project. The governor arrived in Yale to accept the apologies of the Americans who had waged war on the natives. Wanting to make the British military and governmental presence more visible, Douglas appointed justices of the peace and also revised the slapdash mining rules which had emerged along the river. Troops to maintain order, however, were still in short supply.

How many miners were there in the gold rush?

Alfred Waddington, an entrepreneur and pamphleteer of the gold rush later infamous for the disastrous road-building expedition which led to the Chilcotin War of 1864, estimated there were 10,500 miners on the Fraser at the peak of the gold rush.

What was the rush of 1820?

The rush is credited with instigating European-Canadian settlement on the mainland of British Columbia. It was the catalyst for the founding of the Colony of British Columbia, the building of early road infrastructure, and the founding of many towns.

What happened during the gold rush?

During the gold rush tens of thousands of prospectors from California flooded into the newly declared Colony of British Columbia and disrupted the established balance between the Hudson's Bay Company 's fur traders and indigenous peoples.

Where was the Gold Rush?

Duration. 1858 – c. 1927. Location. Fraser Canyon, British Columbia. Type. Gold rush. The Fraser Canyon Gold Rush, (also Fraser Gold Rush and Fraser River Gold Rush) began in 1858 after gold was discovered on the Thompson River in British Columbia at its confluence with the Nicoamen River a few miles upstream from the Thompson's confluence with ...

What was the name of the battle that Moody won in Fort Langley?

This led to an incident popularly known as " Ned McGowan's War ", where Moody successfully quashed a group of rebellious American miners.

Was the Fort Colville Gold Rush a spin off of the Fraser Gold Rush?

The Fort Colville Gold Rush in Washington Territory was also a spin-off of the Fraser Gold Rush, as many miners from the Fraser headed there once news of the strike in US territory reached the mining camps. Many others moved on to a gold rush in Colorado.

What were the Aboriginal people's experiences during the Gold Rush?

Aboriginal people were physically attacked, evicted from their traditional lands, and were subjected to poor working conditions in the gold mines or excluded from the gold rush profits altogether . The experience of Aboriginal people during the Fraser Canyon gold rush was no better.

Why was Begbie called Big Chief?

The death penalty was a mandatory sentence for anyone committing murder at the time. Begbie was known to defend the rights of First Nations people and protect them from the miners. He was fluent in several First Nations languages, including Shuswap and Chilcotin, earning the respect of the First Nations people who nicknamed him “Big Chief.”.

How many people participated in the California gold rush?

The majority of the miners were from the California gold rush of 1848, although their were some from Britain, Canada, and other parts of Europe. More than 300,000 people had participated in the California gold rush (1848-1855).

What was Yale's role in the Cariboo Gold Rush?

During the Cariboo gold rush, Yale was the starting point for transportation on the Cariboo Wagon Road. The Cariboo gold rush spurred the need for a road to be built to the Cariboo regions, and, in 1862, Yale was to become mile zero of the new road being installed by the Royal Engineers.

What was the first bridge in the West?

The next few miles north of Yale consisted of a varying and challenging landscape. Near Yale was Alexandra Suspension Bridge, the first bridge of its type in the west. Forty-four miles north of Yale lay the steepest ascent on the wagon road where travellers climbed far up Jackass Mountain.

What was Begbie's nickname?

Considered both fair and firm, Begbie’s nickname was the “hanging judge” and his reputation brought fear of being tried before him. Court was held anywhere convenient-in taverns, cabins, or even outdoors. If someone were found guilty of murder, they would be hanged immediately.

When did the First Nations get gold?

First Nations miners were the first to pull gold from the mighty and turbulent Fraser River in 1857. Gold had accumulated in the river bars of the Fraser for many thousands of years, and once the First Nations people of the area realized how valuable this element was to the British, they began to mine it and trade their gold for other supplies.

How did the fur trade affect the Fraser River Gold Rush?

Although it ended in the mid-1860s, the Fraser River Gold Rush had a significant impact on the Indigenous peoples that lived there and it resulted in the Fraser Canyon War.

How many miners travelled up the Fraser River?

Between the May and June, over 10,000 American miners (mainly European descent, but also contained Chinese and others) travelled by boat up the Fraser River to get to the at the time popular Fraser River Gold Rush.

What was the cause of the Fraser Canyon War?

The Fraser Canyon War was war waged by mainly white American gold miners against the Nlaka'pamux Indigenous people of the Fraser Canyon in the June of 1858. The war commenced when the white American miners being only men, arrived as part of the Fraser River Gold Rush in 1858, invaded Nlaka’pamux territories by mining the gold in their portion of the land which led to conflicts in defense of their territories and efforts to drive them by force from their claims. Motivated by addiction for gold, American miners created military companies and carried out violent attacks on Nlaka’pamux communities.

What is the Fraser River Basin?

The Fraser River Basin is a vast area, containing rich natural resources and is also a home to many people. The natural gifts of the land stem from the Fraser River, is said to be a source of life that has always connected First Nations, as it has said to do the same to many people in the province today.

Who gave the American miners half of their land?

On the 22nd of August, Captain Henry Snyder held council with the Nlaka’pamux Chief David Spintlum at Kumsheen. He told the Chief Spintlum that they should grant American miners access to their goldfields or else they would be forced to take a more aggressive step involving an American militia determined to access them. Many years later, Chief Spintlum came to a decision, he said that he will give the American miners half of their land and they are not to kill anyone. The White people agreed. They put down all their guns and shook hands with the Indian people.

What happened in the Fraser River Gold Rush?

Beginning that spring, the Fraser River Gold Rush unleashed a chain of events that culminated a dozen years later in British Columbia joining the new Canadian Confederation (see British Columbia and Confederation).

What happened in the 1860s?

The good times were over and the number of miners was falling dramatically. The colonies had run up a huge debt from building roads to the goldfields. To save money, Britain folded the Vancouver Island colony into its British Columbia counterpart in 1866.

What was the long term future of the United Colony of British Columbia?

The long-term future of the United Colony of British Columbia became much debated. Most of those of British background favoured the existing situation. Arrivals from within British North America looked to entry into the new Canadian Confederation, created in 1867 out of the three British colonies of the Province of Canada (which became Ontario and Quebec ), Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Others sought annexation to the United States ( see Annexation Association ).

Who was the fur trader who governed the colony of Vancouver Island?

Sir James Douglas , a fur trader who governed the colony of Vancouver Island, acted on his own initiative to keep the gold rush from spinning out of control, but he could do so for only so long. On 2 August 1858, Britain declared the mainland a separate British colony, named British Columbia, with Douglas in charge.

What was the first gold mine in the Fraser River?

1. Boston Bar. Boston Bar was one of the earliest mining centers to be established in the Fraser River. It was a rich gold mine both along the river and in the nearby hills but once the gold rush died most of the miners left. Today it is marked by a small town of less than a thousand people.

Where was gold discovered?

Soon gold was discovered in Oregon and Idaho encouraging the prospectors to keep moving northwards. It wasn’t long before gold was found along the banks of the Fraser River. The first gold discovery in British Columbia was along the Fraser River in 1858. This triggered a major gold rush and in less than one year there were more than 30,000 miners ...

Where was the first gold found?

Fraser River Gold Panning. The Fraser River was the site of the first gold discovery in British Columbia. This started what was referred to as the Fraser River gold rush which brought in miners from California and other places across the world. Today the river and its creeks still have gold waiting to be discovered by prospectors.

Where is the mining town of Thompson?

Located just near the Confluence of the Fraser River and the Thompson River, the mining town was an important gold mining center during the Fraser River gold rush days. However, once the excitement of the gold rush died, the mining came to an end as most of the gold deposits around the center had been exhausted and many ...

Where to find gold panners?

2. Yale. Yale is one of the most popular places for gold panners along the Fraser River. This small town of about 200 people was among the first settlement centers to be established along the river during the early days of the Fraser river gold rush.

Where was the gold rush located?

Another great mining center from the early days of the gold rush is Lytton. The small town is located at the confluence of the Thompson River and the Fraser River. During the height of the gold rush it was home to hundreds of miners. Today, it is more known as the rafting and fishing than for its rich gold history, but it was really mining that put this area on the map.

Where to pan for gold in the Fraser River?

Cayoosh Creek. Another great place to pan for gold on the Fraser River is Cayoosh Creek which is a tributary of Seton Creek that drains into the Fraser River. Cayoosh Creek flows from the Cayoosh ranges located to the North of the Cayoosh Pass.

Where was gold found?

Eventually new discoveries were made in British Columbia, one of the riches being along the Fraser River. The gold rush led to the growth of mining towns along the Fraser River, and this same region still produces gold today. Gold is found throughout the river system, but there are a few noteworthy locations where rich deposits were first ...

How many people live in the town of Gold Rush?

Today this early gold mining town is a small town of about 900 people and still offers great opportunity to anyone who wants to try gold panning.

What two gold mines were in the Gold Rush?

At the end of the gold rush the creek separated two important gold mines; the Golden Cache Mine on the north and the Ample Mine on the south. The creek is also surrounded by a number of hills and mountain with the highest rising up the three thousand feet, with many small creeks containing placer gold as well.

When was Cayoosh Creek discovered?

Cayoosh Creek was an important gold mining area during the early days of mining in B.C. Gold was first discovered on the creek in 1897 and this discovery resulted in a small local gold rush that lasted between 1897 and 1901. At the end of the gold rush the creek separated two important gold mines; the Golden Cache Mine on the north and ...

Where to do gold panning?

Yale is another great place to visit if you want to do gold panning on the Fraser River. The town dates back to the early days of the Fraser Gold Rush. Today the Yale area has a population of only about 200 people, but this area is now a popular tourist destination. Other than trying your hands at gold panning you also get an opportunity to visit the Yale Museum to learn about the early days of gold mining in the region.

Overview

See more on thecanadianencyclopedia.ca

Gold rush

Richard Clement Moody and the Birth of British Columbia

Related conflicts

Aftermath

See also

Further reading