Historic Archives | Royal Engineer to Reeve: The Life and Times of Philip Jackman

The unveiling of the commemorative cairn for Philip Jackman Park, October 5, 2011

Members of the Jackman family at the unveiling of the cairn across the street from Philip Jackman Park in Aldergrove, BC. The park was renamed to Philip Jackman […]

1907 souvenir edition of The Emigrant Soldier’s Gazette and Cape Horn Chronicle

This copy of the gazette acquired by the Langley Centennial Museum belonged to Royal Engineer Thomas Argyle. Argyle became the lighthouse keeper at Race Rocks lighthouse located just […]

Early view of New Westminster, between 1862 and 1866

A view of New Westminster taken from the south shore of the Fraser River.

The Cariboo Road, 1862: Royal Engineers Push Gold Route through Fraser Canyon

This painting was created by Rex Woods in 1967 as part of a Centennial series called Confederation Life.

The voyage of the Tynemouth

World map showing the voyage of the Tynemouth in red. The Tynemouth followed the same route of the Thames City, going around Cape Horn.

The “Tynemouth” at San Francisco

A clipping from the September 17, 1862 issue of The British Colonist printed in Victoria, British Columbia. The article shows the excitement and nervousness of the men awaiting […]

Plaque commemorating the Cariboo Wagon Road, 2017

This plaque was installed by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada and is located along the Fraser River in Yale, BC.

The wagon road at the 17 mile post. Road to goldfields

Construction of the Cariboo Wagon Road began in 1862 and continued until 1865. It spanned roughly 650 kilometers, providing a route from Fort Yale to Barkerville. Two of […]

The journal of Robert M. Rylatt, 1885

Rylatt wrote notes of his journeys with the CPR and later revisited his journal, adding more detail and coloured drawings. Rylatt’s wife, Fanny Rylatt (née Morrison), remained at […]

Opening page of Robert M. Rylatt’s journal

Rylatt provides an introduction to his diary. This also includes an example of one of the many hand drawn and coloured sketches that he added when he revisited […]

Blazing the trail through the Rockies: the story of Walter Moberly and his share in the making of Vancouver by Noel Robinson and the old man himself

Moberly was interviewed in his older years to produce this book. It details his role in surveying and determining the path of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. He did […]

Downtown Aldergrove, ca. 1914

A view of the Yale Road through downtown Aldergrove.