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History
(The following is provided by the Fort Steele Heritage Town website.)
The origin of Fort Steele can be traced to the small settlement of Galbraith's Ferry, which was born during the 1864 Kootenay gold rush. In 1888 the settlement's name was changed to Fort Steele to honour Superintendent Samuel Steele of the North West Mounted Police, who peacefully settled tensions between white settlers and the Ktunaxa people. Major mineral discoveries in the East Kootenay brought a new boom in 1897. Fort Steele became the commercial, social and administrative centre of the region while property values soared. However, in 1898, when the B.C. Southern Railway bypassed Fort Steele in favour of Cranbrook, the boom sputtered to a halt and the town soon declined into obscurity.
The Province of British Columbia acquired the site in 1961, and later began the good work of preserving and reconstructing the historic town. Today, the Province of BC, along with the Friends of Fort Steele Society, continue this good work preserving and presenting an important part of Canada's pioneering history.
Location
Fort Steele is located on Highway 93/95, 17 kilometres (10 miles) northeast of Cranbrook, and east of Kimberley.
Places to See
- Wild Horse Theatre
While Fort Steele had Coventry's Opera House and Fernie had Stork's Opera House, there never was a Wild Horse Theatre. The reason Fort Steele has the theatre today is that when the town was conceived of as an historic site, planners decided that a facility was needed to present turn-of-the-century entertainment. Come out for a variety of musical and comedy shows during the summer.
- The Barr and Combs Blacksmith Shop
The Barr & Combs Blacksmith Shop, built in 1897, is operating in its original structure much as it did 108 years ago. Coal is burned in the original forge, and fanned by the original bellows. Traditional tools, materials, and techniques are used.
You can get right up close to see the craftsmen turn normal pieces of metal into beautiful and functional works of art. You could even discuss a custom project.
Demonstrations are conducted two to three times daily on a seasonal basis. The blacksmith visits one-on-one with visitors if he's not striking while the iron is hot. A selection of quality retail goods produced in the Blacksmith shop is available for purchase.
- Lambi House
The smell of fresh baking greets visitors to Fort Steele's Lambi House, where the refined domestic skills of yesterday are alive and well.
From butter churning to canning to the creation of old-fashioned ice cream, you can practically watch your great-grandparents raise their children and conduct the routine tasks of the day that have disappeared from our lives in the outside world.
Daily activities from spring through fall include laundry, carpet beating, wood-splitting and fire stoking. The Lambi House Quilters and Antique Lace share their work with the public on Tuesdays in the summer.
Things to Do
- Shop
Bring back a momento of your journey to Fort Steele by purchasing from the local gift shop or the Candy Store.
The gift shop is open daily and offers quality gifts and souvenirs, wearables, jewellery, old-fashioned games, books, and works by local artists.
The Candy Store sells a variety of old-fashioned candy, including caramel apples, salt water taffy, "fairy floss", and lollypops. All of the candy is bagged for you by weight and served in a traditional brown paper bag.
Take an old-fashioned photo at Riverside Photography, where visitors are provided with period costumes and can select from several backdrops and frames.
- Eat
Enjoy a delicious full course meal at the International Hotel Restaurant, which features an elegant Victorian setting and good old-fashioned home-style food. The staff will serve you wearing period dress, and a buffet and salad bar are included on the menu.
The City Bakery at Fort Steele is renowned for its cinnamon buns, and breads are made fresh on site or at a nearby bakery. All goods are baked in a wood-fired oven, and light lunches are also served on occasion.
If a cold desert is what you want, the Ice Cream Corner features hard ice cream in a multitude of flavors, served in regular cones, cups, or waffle cones. Also featured is soda pop in the old style: root beer, cream soda, key lime soda, and orange soda.
- Wagon Rides
Fort Steele's resident horses serve as your mode of transport for a relaxing tour of this historical town. Featuring our giant Clydesdale draft horses, the icons of Fort Steele, our bright red passenger wagon seats 20, and runs in a continuous loop throughout the day during summer.
Events
- Dominion Day Celebration
Happy Birthday Canada! Bring the family for a slice of birthday cake, living history street dramas, and heritage games. Enjoy the foot-tapping music of the Kimberley Community Band, followed by the exciting Calgary Stampede Showriders! This event is just plain, good old-fashioned fun. A great way to spend the day!
- Miss Bailey Day
July 26th- Miss Bailey was Fort Steele's first schoolteacher, beloved and well-respected by all. Wynne Royer is the actor who has portrayed her at Fort Steele for many years. Come on out and enjoy the Baker Street Quartet, special living history street scenes performed as tributes to Miss Bailey. There's a 12:30 lunch box auction to raise funds toward writing slates for the school house, and more.
- Gold Panning Day
August 18- Fun for the whole family. Loads of fun, and only partly-serious. with panning and other choke-cherry-spitting-log-hammerin' fun 'n games all day. Panning competitions for beginners, experts and everyone in between.
- Kootenay Country Fair
September 9- It's a good old-fashioned country fair! You'll find entries including baked goods, produce and cut flowers, preserves, needlework, and entries for the best scarecrow and decorated bike. Lots of prize money and ribbons. Special exhibits, live entertainment, games, a petting zoo, and wagon and steam train rides (the last of the year). The event starts with a pancake breakfast at 8am, and ends with a fun auction at around 4:30 to kick-start funding for next year! Some great products are left behind by the competitors for the auction- don't miss it!
- Thanksgiving Celebration
October 7- Harvest potatoes for the local food bank, and enjoy "A Taste of Thanksgiving" at the Lambi House afterwards. Activities run from noon to 4pm. Don't miss the popular Pie Auction. Contribute to the Friends of Fort Steele Society, and take home a delicious home-baked pie! Dress warmly for a crisp autumn afternoon with your family in the great outdoors. Bountiful Thanksgiving Dinner in the International Hotel.
- Fort Steele Christmas
December 1- "The Spirit & Sparkle of Christmas" at the Fort Steele Mercantile features a handpicked selection of art and crafts by local artisans and crafters. Wander through the shop with a cup of hot cider in hand, and pick out your favourites. Shopping has never been this relaxing. Check out the weekend programs for children of all ages! There are winter wagon rides on Sundays. Admission is by donation. Wagon rides are $2 each.
Contact Information
Fort Steele Heritage Town
9851 Highway 93/95
Fort Steele, BC
Canada V0B 1N0
Phone: 250.417.6000
Fax: 250.489.2624
24 Hour Visitor Info Line: 250.426.7352
E-mail: Info@FortSteele.bc.ca
Website: www.fortsteele.ca
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