The History of British Columbia

First Nations Peoples

The history of British Columbia begins with the First Nations peoples who have lived and flourished here for thousands of years.

Native art, culture, languages, festivals and history are an important aspect of B.C.’s cultural makeup. Everywhere you travel in B.C., you will see Aboriginal names for towns, cities, rivers, lakes, mountains and fjords. Some of these names go back many thousands of years.  

European Explorers

British, Spanish, Russian and American explorers began to visit the B.C. area in the 1750s. Some of these explorers established fur trading posts from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans. Vancouver Island was colonized by the British in 1849. Soon after, the Gold Rush attracted tens of thousands of people to the interior of B.C.

B.C. was a British Colony up until 1871, when it joined Canada. In 1885, the Canadian Pacific Railway was completed, opening the country from east to west. It increased trade and the movement of people and resources from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

For a more complete overview of the history of British Columbia, visit the Encyclopedia of British Columbia. There are many online resources that can tell you more about B.C.’s colourful history.


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