Situated at the northern terminus of the Port Douglas to Lillooet route to the upper Fraser, the little community, know first as Cayoosh Flat, became known as Lillooet in 1859 while it was the central point of mining activity. In 1862 with the building of G.B.Wright's wagon road to Clinton, Lillooet became Mile Zero of the Cariboo Road. By 1863, and with a population of 1,600, it supported hotels and shops of every description, built along one wide, dusty street. ("Trails to Gold", Vol.1, by Branwen C.Patenaude, 1995, p.51.) The P.G.E. railway reached Lillooet in 1912, and for the last number of years has transported tourists on a day trip to the historic town from North Vancouver and back. During WW2 Japanese Canadians were interned there. It is now a centre for the growing of Ginseng, and shares with Lytton the distinction of being the hottest spot in Canada. On July 16, 1941 the temperature reached 44.4C.With the paving of the Duffey Lake Road from Highway 97 at Hat Creek, to Pemberton, it has become a popular tourist destination. (Encyclopedia of B.C., p.413) Today the municipality of Lillooet has a population of 1,988.
Main street Lillooet in the 1860s (credit: Boam and Brown 1912,
p.384)
Main street Lillooet about 1915, hunters heading out (credit: BC Archives #I-51577)
Pioneers of Lillooet
| Home| Lower Fraser| Fraser Canyon | Clinton | Barkerville | Text TOC | Indexes | Team |
|
All text and images
© Quesnel & District Museum and Archives unless otherwise
noted. Thanks to the B.C. Archives for permission to show various
images. Thanks to the BC Encyclopedia for permission to quote information
on the roadhouse communities. Thanks to the Living Landscapes Project,
the Royal British Columbia Museum, Ministry of Community, Aboriginal
and Women's Services for their support of site development.
|