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Welcome to the Historic Walking Tour of Quesnel, British Columbia2
Map of Quesnel City Streets2004
Quesnel; British Columbia, Canada
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Panoramic photograph of Front Street; Quesnel's Business District (5975.385.1)October, 1914
Front Street, Quesnel; British Columbia, Canada
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Welcome to the historic City of Quesnel. Our city's long and rich history dates back to 1859, when development began along Front Street. Through the years, the centre of commercial enterprise has moved from Front Street and Carson Avenue to Reid Street, and the surrounding area. As is the case in many towns, businesses have moved, sometimes several times, or have ceased to exist, and for this reason the names of many of Quesnel's early entrepreneurs have been forgotten, or lost. It is our hope that this tour will remind visitors and residents alike of the many unique and interesting names and places that have been associated with our past.5
Hudsons Bay Company Store (5975.380.1)1910
Front Street, Quesnel; British Columbia, Canada
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This self-guided tour takes approximately 30 to 40 minutes to complete. If weather and time permits, there is an optional branch from the historic walk that takes an approximate 15 additional minutes. This optional walk connects to the renowned City-wide River Front Trail.7
Panoramic Photograph of Downown Quesnel in 1940 taken by W.H. Warden (1990.22.1)1940
Quesnel; British Columbia, Canada
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The Horse Racing Track (1994.17.116)1950
Quesnel; British Columbia, Canada
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The tour begins at the Quesnel & District Museum and Archives, which opened in 1963, and is known as one of the best museums in British Columbia. The building is located in the beautiful, five-acre Lebourdais Park, named for a local pioneer telegrapher and historian, Louis Lebourdais. Mr. Lebourdais was also the MLA for the Cariboo from 1937 to 1947. During the 1920s and 30s, this park area was used as a horse racetrack, picnic site, and sports field. Horse racing was a very popular form of Cariboo entertainment, and parimutuel betting added to the excitement. The nearby hill overlooking the park, where Dunrovin Seniors home is today, was the site of the Willingdon Golf Course clubhouse in the 1930s.10
Historic Fire Bell MonumentJuly, 2000
Quesnel; British Columbia, Canada
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Immediately outside the museum, beside the rose garden, is a bell tower with a 400-lb. bell purchased from the T. Eaton Company in 1911. This fire bell was originally located behind the Town Hall on Carson Avenue and used by the local Fire Department. At 12:30 a.m. on January 16, 1916, it tolled to alert residents to the catastrophic fire which destroyed most of the buildings along Front Street.12
Pacific Great Eastern Rail Station 1923 (1989.52.1)1923
Quesnel; British Columbia, Canada
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Directly across Highway 97 from the museum is the B.C. Railway Station House, which was built in 1921, and originally called the Pacific Great Eastern Railway. Quesnel remained the northern terminus from 1921 until 1952, when a bridge built across the Cottonwood River allowed the railway to be completed to Prince George.14
Pacific great Eastern Engine with Workers (5975.239.1)1921
Lone Butte; British Columbia, Canada
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