Fort St. James National Historic Site

Stroll along the lake to the stairs leading to the historical grounds. As you wander here, enjoy the view of Nak’al Bun. Walk along the pathway to the staircase and then ascend to the flagpole.

In summer, the staff raise the Hudson's Bay company flag every morning when the site opens. This maintains a tradition that dates back over 100 years when this place was an operating fur trade post. Strong winds off Stuart Lake are an almost constant part of the experience here. 

The site's many boardwalks were built to connect the core buildings of the fur trading fort. The boardwalks also made wheeling heavy carts with goods, supplies and furs easier by being raised off the ground. Today, the boardwalks create a pleasant walking experience for visitors 

The Fur Warehouse is one of the finest surviving examples of a Red River frame fur trade building in Canada. This style of construction was originally used at fur trading posts in the Red River Valley of Manitoba, thus the name. 

The warehouse was built in 1888. Over time, the wood has revealed marks left behind by the people who built it. The oils in their hands left distinct prints that can be seen on the ceiling of the warehouse to this day. 

The idea for the Fish Cache came from the Dakelh First Nation. The building is raised by the four corner elevated posts to discourage predators. 

The Guest House was built in 1884 as a residence for company employees, pack train hands, boat crews and visitors. A simple building, it kept the occupants warm and hosted many important and colourful characters during the height of fur trade operations in New Caledonia.

The Guest House also served as an early schoolhouse and as a private residence in the 1930s and ‘40s. The walls were often wallpapered with magazine articles such as these: effective at keeping the cold breeze from coming inside and also providing a source of literary comfort!

The Interpreter’s House was erected in 1889; it was a building similar to the one that stands here today. It was called the Interpreter's House because a Hudson's Bay employee would live here while working as an interpreter for the site. The original building burnt down in 1926;

You are looking across one of the oldest gardens in northern BC. As early as May 22, 1811, fur trader Daniel Harmon reported, “We have planted our potatoes, and sowed barley, turnips and corn. . . which are the first that we ever sowed."

The trade store was where furs were exchanged for supplies and money.

The store held all the trade goods and an attached office was where the clerk would sleep. You could buy anything here: food, traps, fabric, and even hair dye (as long as you didn’t mind black ink in your hair)!

The Officer’s Dwelling House was home to many of Fort St. James’s “chief factors” over the years, including A.C. Murray and his family  in 1896.  From an office in this home, Mr. Murray oversaw a vast operation of fur trade posts and routes across the region.

In summer, today’s site staff offer world famous chicken races right here at Fort St. James. Although these grounds were a common place for fort workers to gather —often with gambling at the heart of it—chicken racing, (as far as we know) wasn't around in 1896!