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Fort Steele Heritage Town
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Fort Steele Heritage Town
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Fort Steele Heritage Town
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Fort Steele Heritage Town
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Fort Steele Heritage Town
By Cassandra Redding
The past lives and breathes at Fort Steele Heritage Town. Perched on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains since its gold rush beginnings in 1864, the village has gone from boomtown, to regional centre, to ghost town, to one of the most important heritage attractions of its kind in British Columbia.
In 1961, the Government declared Fort Steele an historic park with a mandate “to preserve, present, and manage for public benefit the historic settlement of Fort Steele…” Over 60 heritage buildings have been restored and reconstructed since then. You’ll be surprised at the hidden treasures you’ll find, telling visual stories of days gone by. In fact, you might even think that the 1890s residents had just stepped out to run a quick errand!
Fort Steele is a living history museum with activities varying by season. The summer season brings history to life with street theatre, museum displays, livestock demonstrations, live theatre shows, steam train rides, horse-drawn wagon rides, and heritage trades demonstrations . Visit in the fall of 2017 to take in the “Kootenay County Fair” on September 10, “ A Taste of Thanksgiving” (activities and a dinner with all the fixings) on October 8 and "Spooktacular", one of their biggest events on October 28.
If you are in Fort Steele this winter take a ride on a Clydesdale horse-drawn sleigh on the weekend (weather dependent). Enjoy "Sundays in December" running December 3, 10, and 17, with Father Christmas in the Lambi house on December 3, as well as "The Polar Express" movie event on December 3. There's also an Annual Sleigh Ride on January 1 that is very popular (of course weather dependent as well).
At the Wasa Hotel Museum, you can see informative displays of the history and heritage of Fort Steele, the surrounding region, and the people who lived here. The Wasa Hotel Museum, which opened in 1967, is a replica of the Wasa Hotel, which once stood in the community of Wasa, just north of Fort Steele. Also currently on display, until September 13, is the “Ice A ge Mammals" exhibit from the Canadian Museum of Nature. Beginning September 15 will be the Dinosaurs Unearthed (http://www.dinosaursunearthed.com/).
Today, Fort Steele Heritage Town is one of the most important attractions of its kind in British Columbia with over 80,000 people visiting each year. There’s no time like the present and no fun like the past.
Planning your trip
Fort Steele Heritage Town is conveniently located within easy driving distance from many communities Radium and Fairmont Hot Springs are a short distance to the north, Fernie to the east, Kimberley to the west, and Cranbrook and Coeur d’Alene, ID to the south.
If you are looking to camp:
- Fort Steele Campground - 250-426-5117 - wecamp@fortsteelecampground.com - www.fortsteelecampground.com
- Fort Steele Resort and RV Park - 250-489-4268 - resort@fortsteele.com - www.fortsteele.com
Enjoy these amenities:
- Free parking
- Washrooms (wheelchair accessible)
- Baby changing stations
- Visitor information to help you with your stay in our area
- Gift shop
- Food services - Restaurant, Bakery, Ice Cream Parlour, Lunch Counter
- Wheelchairs and children’s strollers are available on a first-come-first-served basis
- Free wireless internet
Connect with Cassandra Redding on social media: linkedin