The Origins of Fort Steele can be traced to the small settlement of Galbraiths ferry, which was born during the 1864 Kootenay Gold Rush. In 1888 the name was changed to Fort Steele to honour the Superintentent Samuel Steele of the North West Mounted Police,who peacefully settled tensions between the Ktunaxa people and the White Settlers.
Major mineral discoveries in 1897 brought a new boom to the area and for a while Forte Steele became the commercial,social and administrative centre of the region.Proprerty values soared and for a short while the town prospered. But in 1898 the railway by passed the town in favour of Cranbrook and the town soon declined.
Mnay of the buildings have been restored, and some relocated and it is now a thriving tourist attraction. A number of volunteers play the part of the townspeople and throughout the day demonstrations of life in the 1880s are given. During the Summer months a daily show is performed in the theatre. Wagon rides and a tip on the steam train are also included in the entrance ticket.
We arrived on the last weekend of the sumer season to find they were holding a BBQ and a special sunset trip on the train.We joined many of the volunteers on this ride and had wonderful views of the setting sun, from the railway view point. We disturbed several deer as the train tooted round the track and it was only a short walk back to the campsite at the end of the evening.
The Origins of Fort Steele can be traced to the small settlement of Galbraiths ferry, which was born during the 1864 Kootenay Gold Rush. In 1888 the name was changed to Fort Steele to honour the Superintentent Samuel Steele of the North West Mounted Police,who peacefully settled tensions between the Ktunaxa people and the White Settlers.
Major mineral discoveries in 1897 brought a new boom to the area and for a while Forte Steele became the commercial,social and administrative centre of the region.Proprerty values soared and for a short while the town prospered. But in 1898 the railway by passed the town in favour of Cranbrook and the town soon declined.
Mnay of the buildings have been restored, and some relocated and it is now a thriving tourist attraction. A number of volunteers play the part of the townspeople and throughout the day demonstrations of life in the 1880s are given. During the Summer months a daily show is performed in the theatre. Wagon rides and a tip on the steam train are also included in the entrance ticket.
We arrived on the last weekend of the sumer season to find they were holding a BBQ and a special sunset trip on the train.We joined many of the volunteers on this ride and had wonderful views of the setting sun, from the railway view point. We disturbed several deer as the train tooted round the track and it was only a short walk back to the campsite at the end of the evening.
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