Introduction

The Gold Rush

Aboriginal Culture

Chief Isidore

End of the Gold Rush

At the end of 1865 most of the gold-bearing land along Wild Horse Creek had been claimed and the easy gold pickings were gone. Miners started to leave Fisherville to look for new gold fields. Soon there were only a few miners left at Wild Horse Creek who still dreamed of striking it rich.

Just 20 miles north of Fisherville a group of men had discovered gold on Perry Creek. Miners raced up to Perry Creek the same way that they had come to Wild Horse Creek. A new gold rush was just beginning. Fisherville was turning into a ghost town.

But even though Wild Horse Creek was becoming deserted the government of BC still decided to make Fisherville the center for the Kootenays. They had after all, spent a lot of time and money to build a trail there. Government offices were set up and a post office was built. Wild Horse Creek stayed the center for another 34 years.

When all the miners left Fisherville all that was left behind were a few houses, Mr. Galbraith, his ferry and his store. Over 20 years later, in 1887, Galbraith’s Ferry changed its name to Fort Steele. This happened because of a disagreement between the people of Galbraith’s Ferry and the Ktunaxa.

Dewdney Trail