British Columbia Forts

Canadian Forts

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Last Update: 15/OCTOBER/2025

Compiled by Pete Payette - ฉ2025 American Forts Network

คคค COAST ARTILLERY DEFENCES, VANCOUVER HARBOUR
Harbour Defence of Vancouver - FORT WIKI

คคค Point Atkinson Battery
(1942 - 1944), West Vancouver
A field emplacement for one 18-pounder MK1 gun, used as the examination battery for the harbour defence. The gun was later fixed-mounted on a concrete pillar mounting (which still exists). Site located immediately south of the lighthouse (built 1912), adjacent Lighthouse Park, a city park. A concrete pedestal for a fire-control/range-finder station is located immediately west of the lighthouse. Two searchlights were emplaced here in 1941, one position still remains. The concrete powerhouse for both searchlights also remains, located immediately north of the lighthouse. A number of wooden barracks also still exist near the lighthouse. There is no public access to any of these structures on the grounds of the lighthouse station, which is beyond the public park. The Naval Port War Signal Station for Vancouver Harbour was also located here in the vicinity of the lighthouse.

คคค First Narrows (North) Battery
(1939 - 1944), North Vancouver, Vancouver
An AMTB battery of two 12-pounder quick-firing guns was temporarily located at the Capilano River Spit. It was moved to a three-story concrete "gantry" located under the piers of the Lions Gate Bridge. No remains. Three searchlights were also emplaced here. One AA gun was emplaced nearby at Ambleside in 1942.

คคค Siwash Rock Battery
(1914), Stanley Park, Vancouver
Two 4-inch naval guns were temporarily emplaced here in WWI. A searchlight was later located here during WWII (emplacement still remains).

คคค Stanley Park Battery
(1939 - 1943), Stanley Park, Vancouver
Located on Ferguson Point, originally armed with two 6-inch MK7 guns on MK2 mounts, later replaced with two 4.7-inch guns. The guns were swapped-out in 1942 with those on Yorke Island. The gun emplacements were buried in 1948. The site is marked by a Royal Canadian Artillery plaque. The two-story underground magazine still exists, but no public access. The Officers' Mess still exists, now incorporated into the Teahouse restaurant. The battery observation post and the powerhouse were demolished in 1963. Two searchlights were also emplaced here. The 1000-acre public park was originally created in 1888. See also Vancouver Park Board - Stanley Park

คคค Point Grey Battery
(1914, 1939 - 1950/1968), Vancouver
Located on Point Grey at the present University of British Columbia, Museum of Anthropology. In WWI two 60-pounder field guns were positioned here. In WWII two 6-inch MK7 guns were initially emplaced here on temporary mounts, soon replaced by three 6-inch MK7 guns on MK2 mounts. One source makes a reference to Fort Grey in WWII. Placed in caretaker status in 1948. In 1950 the barracks were used as extra dormitories for the students of the University of British Columbia (aka "Fort Camp"). The Battery OP was used as a military radio transmitter station until the 1960's. The reservation was transferred to the province in 1968. One gun position and the cantonment area were demolished in 1973 for the construction of the museum. The other two gun positions still remain at each end of the museum. The examination gun (1939 - 1942) was a 6-pounder Hotchkiss gun. A 3.7-inch AA gun was on the point some distance from the fort. Two additional AA guns were also in the area. Two searchlights were positioned on the beach (concrete towers and powerhouse still remain).

คคค Steveston Battery
(1939 - 1943), Steveston
A field emplacement for two 18-pounder MK1 guns. An AA battery was also located here. One 18-pounder gun was later replaced with two 25-pounder guns in 1943. Located near the northern bank of the mouth of the south arm of the Fraser River, at the end of the Steveston Highway on the west dike of Lulu Island, north of town.

คคค Boundary Bay Battery
(1942 - 1945), Boundary Bay
An anti-aircraft battery was located here to protect the nearby military airfield.

คคค NOTES: The WWII Fire Command post (1942 - 1944) was once located at "Wadsley" (West Vancouver), near McKechnie Park. It was later converted to a private guest house, but was demolished in 2006 or 2007. A battery observation post was located at Prospect Point, First Narrows (South). From 1943 - 1945 there were four additional sites with four each 3.7-inch AA guns, which replaced 40mm Bofors guns emplaced in 1942, located at Little Mountain, Lynnmour, Burnaby, and Sea Island (Vancouver International Airport). The Royal Canadian Air Force Seaplane Base was located at Jericho Beach, now a city park. The concrete apron and three original station buildings still remain, now in adaptive re-use.

Vancouver info gathered from "Vancouver Defended: A History of the Men and Guns of the Lower Mainland Defences, 1859-1949" by Peter Moogk, 1978, Antonson Publishing.

Special thanks to David Morgan and Robert Zink of the Coast Defense Study Group for providing info on the Coast Artillery Defences of British Columbia.
Also thanks to John Eckersley (CDSG) and Vic Stevenson for corrections and updates.

Homulchesan Indian Fort
(unknown dates), near North Vancouver
A palisaded Indian village was once located here on the present-day Capilano Reserve. No remains.
(info courtesy of Mike Clevan)

Vancouver Post
(1889 - 1920), Vancouver
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. Replaced Fort Langley as the main HBC depot. The first HBC retail store in the area was built in 1887 on Cordova Street in Gastown, closed in 1893. The main HBC warehouse was also built in Gastown in 1895 at 321 Water Street, used as such until the 1960's (still extant as the Hudson House). See also History of the HBC Vancouver Store from HBC Heritage

A retail store was first established in Vancouver in January 1887 on Cordova Street, under the management of George W. Weeks. The store initially carried groceries and provisions, as well as wines and spirits. In 1890 the HBC established a branch store in the Crewe block on Granville Street and offered goods not available at the Cordova Street store, including general dry goods, men's furnishings, carpet, and dressmaking departments. In the spring of 1892 the HBC began construction on what was then known as the "New Store," at the corner of Granville and Georgia Streets. This store was opened in September 1893 and the Cordova Street store was subsequently closed.

The Bay, Downtown Vancouver first opened at the corner of Granville and Georgia Streets in September 1893. It replaced the first Hudson's Bay Company store on Cordova Street, which had become too small for the company's needs. The Granville Street store was expanded in 1899 and 1905, but eventually even more space was required.

Construction of a new store at the corner of Georgia and Seymour Streets began in 1913. This first phase of the present store, located behind the old Granville Street store, opened in March 1914. In 1925 the old store at Granville and Georgia Streets was torn down in order to make way for a second phase of construction on the new store. A new building was erected in its place and joined to the store on Georgia and Seymour. In 1926 a third phase of construction expanded the store north along Granville Street. A fourth addition on North Seymour Street was built in 1949, bringing the store to its present size.

In 1965 the HBC department stores, including the downtown Vancouver store, were rebranded as "The Bay." In the mid-1980's the store was connected to Vancouver's SkyTrain light rapid transit system, reinforcing its central location in the city's downtown. As of 2013 the downtown Vancouver store is still open for business and has been rebranded as "Hudson's Bay."

NOTE: The Hudson's Bay Company went out of business for good in June 2025, after 355 years.

New Westminster Barracks
(1858 - 1864 ?), New Westminster
The colonial capital until replaced by Victoria in 1866. Royal Engineers were sent here to provide law and order against American-led uprisings and threats of annexation after the 1858 gold rush in the Fraser River valley.
(additional info courtesy of Mike Clevan)

Fort Langley (National Historic Site)
(1827 - 1886/89), Fort Langley FORT WIKI
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. Original site located downriver in Derby at Derby Reach Regional Park (fort site is marked). A new fort was built in 1838 at the new location, repaired in 1839 after a fire, but was completely rebuilt again in 1840. It features an extant 1840 warehouse, and 1957 reconstructed Big House, northwest bastion and Servants' quarters. Later, this fort became a provisioning post for the 1858 gold rush. The palisade wall was dismantled in 1864. British Columbia was proclaimed a crown colony here in 1858. The colonial capital was promptly moved to New Westminster as a more militarily defensible location than either Fort Langley or the earlier site at Derby. The HBC opened a retail store in 1886 at Langley Post (HBC records end in 1889), then moved to Langley Sales Shop until closed in 1896. See also The Children of Fort Langley by Lisa Peppan || See also Fort to Fort Trail

Of interest nearby is the Langley Centennial Museum and National Exhibition Centre (admission fee).

Fort Langley was established in 1827 on the Lower Fraser River, near the junction of the Fraser and Salmon Rivers by Chief Factor James McMillan. Fort Langley was established as a means of securing a HBC presence along the Pacific Coast that had been previously monopolized by American traders. In 1839 Fort Langley was moved a few miles higher on the banks of the Fraser River, closer to Langley Farm. In April 1840 Fort Langley burned down, however, the post was quickly rebuilt. Fur trade business as well as agriculture and salmon fishing were conducted at Fort Langley. During the gold rush of 1858 a profitable cash and gold dust business was also conducted at the post. In 1886 the HBC established a saleshop at Langley, which primarily served the settlers in the region. The HBC closed Langley Post in 1896.

Fort Hope (National Historic Site)
(1848 - 1889/92), Hope FORT WIKI
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records begin in 1860). It was also used during the 1858 gold rush, when the town was formally established. Nearly closed in 1862 after the local gold rush ended. A store was built in 1889 on Main Street, which closed in 1892. Of interest in town is the Hope Museum and Visitor Centre complex on Water Avenue.

Fort Hope was established in the fall of 1848 by Henry Newsham Peers at the confluence of the Coquihalla and Fraser Rivers. In 1889 the HBC store was situated on Main Street in the townsite of Fort Hope. Fort Hope was closed during outfit 1891-92 due to a decline in business as a result of the shift of the packtrain route to Siccamous on the Canadian Pacific rail line near Revelstoke.

Fort Yale
(Yale Museum and Historic Site)
(1848 - 1849, 1864 - 1892), Yale FORT WIKI
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The first post was abandoned in favour of the better situated Fort Hope. The town was formally established in 1858 during the gold rush. The last HBC store here (Yale Post) was closed in 1892 (HBC records cover 1864 - 1889). This BC Heritage Area is managed by the Yale and District Historical Society. See also The Gold Rush Town of Yale from BC Heritage

Yale was established in 1848 at the head of the navigable waters of the Fraser River. Yale was established as a means of addressing two problems created by the Oregon Treaty of 1846 which resulted in the settlement of the U.S. border dispute. The first was the need for a replacement for the Columbia River portion of the HBC brigade trail that was now in American territory. The second was the need for a new southern end point and depot for the brigade trail - the former terminus being Fort Okanagan, which was now also on the American side of the border. However, the overland route between Kamloops and Yale proved to be too dangerous and, in 1849, Fort Hope replaced Yale as the trans-shipment point on the brigade trail.

Yale also became an important centre for gold miners heading further north, as well as for those involved in the shallow mining along the Fraser River between Yale and Fort Hope. During the 1850's gold mining led to an increase in population between Yale and Fort Hope, and prompted Governor James Douglas to order the creation of town plans for the two posts. By 1861 Yale was again functioning as a transportation hub for the region. However, by 1863 the construction of the Cariboo Wagon Road between Yale and Cook's Ferry was nearing completion, and most traffic began to bypass Yale on the way further north. The HBC closed the post at Yale in 1892.

McDougal's Post
(1861 - unknown), Princeton
An independent fur trade post.

Fort Similkameen
(1860 - 1872), Keremeos
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, originally located in the center of present-day Cawston. Relocated sometime between 1867 and 1870. Also known as Keremeos Post. Barrington Price settled here in 1872 and purchased the closed HBC post and ranch property and constructed the Keremeos Gristmill nearby in 1877, which operated until 1904. The former trade post also continued to serve as the local general store during that time, until Price sold out and returned to England. The mill, at 2691 Upper Bench Road, was declared a National Historic Site in 1977, restored in the 1980's, and is open to the public for tours and special events.

Osoyoos Post
(1867 - 1872), Osoyoos
A Hudson's Bay Co. post.

West Bank Post
(1820's - 1860's), West Bank
An independent fur trade post.

Vernon Post
(1887 - unknown), Vernon
A Hudson's Bay Co. post and store. A second HBC store was established in 1912.

Grande Prairie Post
(1820's ? - 1860's), Westwold
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. The land was sold in 1864.

Fort Dallas
(1859 ?), Lytton
A proposed Hudson's Bay Co. post, just south of the present town. Ordered abandoned before construction was started, although supplies and building materi้l were already delivered and on hand.

Lillooet Indian Fort
(unknown dates), Lillooet
A palisaded Indian village was once located here. No remains.
(info courtesy of Mike Clevan)

Fort Berens
(1859), Lillooet
A short-lived (February-July) Hudson's Bay Company outpost under Fort Kamloops, located on the east side of the Fraser River opposite the town. It was ordered to be abandoned before construction was completed (only one structure was finished).

Fort Kamloops
(1812 - 1941), Kamloops FORT WIKI
An American Pacific Fur Company post was originally located here in early 1812, known as She-Whaps Post. This was the northernmost extent of the American trade posts in the old Oregon Territory. In October 1813 it was bought out and then abandoned by the North West Company, which had already built a competing post on the other side of the river (Thompson River Post) (also 1812). The Hudson's Bay Co. took over control of the NWCo. post in 1822, and later rebuilt it in 1842 (now named Kamloops) on the north shore of the junction of the North and South Thompson Rivers, with a high palisade and two blockhouses/bastions, in the general area of present-day Briar Ave. and Tranquille Road. The post was attacked by Indians on several occasions. A second HBC post was built in 1861 across the river (south shore) to replace the first due to periodic flooding, about one-third mile west of the present Overlander Bridge (HBC records end in 1932). A 1966 replica of the 1842 HBC post is at the Kamloops Museum and Archives at 207 Seymour Street.

A palisaded Shuswap Indian village (date ?) was once located here. No remains.

In 1821, after the union of the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company, the HBC took over operations at the former NWCo. post of Thompson's River situated at the junction of the northern and eastern branches of the Thompson River, approximately 100 miles from Fort Okanagan (Washington). The post continued to be called Thompson's River until approximately 1859, when it was renamed Fort Kamloops.

In 1863 a new post was built on the south bank of the southern branch of the Thompson River as a means of providing a more convienient location for trade. Around 1880 the HBC built a store on Victoria Street in the town of Kamloops, and in 1894 a new two-story brick store was built between Prior's Hill and First Avenue. By 1911 the store had moved again to the south-west corner of Second Avenue and Victoria Street. In 1941 the original post buildings were torn down, however the HBC store remained in operation until at least 1970.

Little Fort
(1850 - 1852), Little Fort
A short-lived Hudson's Bay Co. outpost located on the east side of the North Thompson River, south of Clearwater, a subpost of Fort Kamloops.

Fort Shepherd
(Fort Shepherd Conservancy Area)
(1857 - 1870), near Waneta
A Hudson's Bay Co. post, located on the west bank of the Columbia River six kilometres south of Trail, near the mouth of the Pend d'Oreille River, built to replace Fort Colvile on the American side of the border, and to serve the Sinixt Indian trade (Fort Colvile, however, remained in operation until 1871). Closed briefly in 1862. Reopened in 1863 during the Kootenay Gold Rush. The Dewdney Trail from Hope to Wildhorse led through Fort Shepherd. The abandoned post burned down in 1872. A stone cairn (1951) marks the site.

Perry Creek Post ? ?
(1880's), near Cranbrook
An independent (or HBC (?)) trading post located at Old Town on Perry (Perrier) Creek, northwest of town. Gold was discovered here in 1876. The settlement was eventually abandoned after the local gold rush ended (about a decade or so afterwards).

Fort Steele
(Fort Steele Heritage Town)
(1888 - 1898 ?), Fort Steele
The town was originally called Galbraith's Ferry. It was renamed in 1888 with the establishment of the post. This was the first permanent North West Mounted Police post west of the Rocky Mountains. There are over 60 homes and other restored buildings in this living history town. Admission fee.

Kootenay Post (2)
(1860 - 1871/1880's), near Roosville
A long-established Hudson's Bay Co. post that had to relocate across the newly surveyed international boundary from Montana. Also known as John Linklater's Post at this time. Following the discovery of gold at Wild Horse Creek, the post was moved to Joseph's Prairie sometime between 1862 and 1865. Also known as Wild Horse Creek Post. Closed in 1871, but may have operated longer. Eventually replaced by Fort Steele. (See also MONTANA page 3)

Kootenae House (1) (National Historic Site)
(1807 - 1808/1812), near Wilmer
A trading post for the North West Company located just north of Windemere Lake on Toby Creek. Originally located at Canterbury Point on the north end of the lake, about two miles south of Toby Creek, it was moved before the first winter. Also known as McGillivray's Fort. The post was later moved south into present-day Montana, and stayed there for several decades until politics forced the HBC to relocate back north across the international boundary in 1860 (see above). The Toby Creek location may have been further used periodically as a wintering shelter until 1812. A replica fort was built in 1922 at Canterbury Point (aka Fort Point) by the Canadian Pacific Railway, rebuilt in the 1940's before later being sold to the Invermere Golf and Country Club and turned into a sand bunker on the golf course, which lasted until closed in the 1960's. Now residential development. The Toby Creek site was donated to the government in 1935, marked by a stone cairn.

Beavermouth Post
(1884 - 1885), near Field
A temporary NWMP post built to watch over, and keep the peace between, the railroad gangs through Kicking Horse Pass.

Boat Encampment
(1811 - unknown), near Mica Creek
A North West Co. post on the Wood River near its mouth at the Columbia River (area is now submerged under Kinbasket Lake). Built in January 1811, it was used for several years as a rendezvous point for expeditions through the Athabasca Pass.

Lac d'Orignal Post
(Mount Robson Provincial Park)
(1810 ? - unknown), near Moose Lake
A North West Co. post near Yellowhead Pass, near the "T๊te Jaune Cache".

Fort Alexandria (National Historic Site)
(1821 - 1867/1881), Alexandria FORT WIKI
A North West Co. post built shortly before the merger with the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC records begin in 1824). This was the last built NWCo. post. Relocated in 1836 from the east side of the river to the west side. Mainly used as a storage depot for goods going north from Kamloops to Stuart Lake and Fraser Lake. Grew into a large tent camp during the 1858-62 gold rush. The post became a HBC farm operation after 1867 until 1881. Several of the original buildings were still standing after 1881 until demolished in 1915.

Fort Alexandria was established in 1821 on the west side of the Fraser River as a fur trade post and farm. It also served as a supply depot for the New Caledonia District. In response to a decline in trade resulting from the Caribou gold rush, in 1863 the HBC purchased a restaurant and began to operate a catering business on the opposite side of the Fraser River. In April 1867 a new store was opened; however, by June of the same year, Quesnel had surpassed Fort Alexandria as the supply depot for the district. Fort Alexandria was subsequently reduced to a farm for supplying Quesnel and the Caribou region with produce. In 1873 the HBC sold the restaurant and in 1881 relinquished its property at Fort Alexandria to private owners.

Fort Chilcotin
(1829 - 1844, 1899 - unknown), near Redstone
A Hudson's Bay Co. post (HBC records cover 1837 - 1840), consisting of only a few cabins located just above the confluence of the Chilcotin and Chilko Rivers. The Tsilhqot'in Indians generally did not support the post (they were known as a rather uncooperative and warlike band). The brief "Chilcotin War" of 1864 erupted in the area between settlers and government road building parties and the local Indians. A second HBC post (Chilcotin Post) was later established in 1899 on 100 acres of land on the north fork of the Chilcotin River near Copeland's Ranch.

Chilcotin post was established in 1829 on the Chilcotin River by George McDougall. In 1822 McDougall, then in charge of Fort Alexandria, made a trading trip to the Chilcotin River and found the region to be rich in furs. The following year the Northern Council recommended the establishment of a post in the area; however, the winter of 1823-24 proved to be too mild to travel. Unrest amongst local Aboriginal groups also delayed the establishment of the post. Chilcotin was abandoned in February 1830, but appears to have been in operation until 1844. In 1844 the HBC decided to move the post to Lake Kluskus, about 70 miles to the north, as a means of capitalizing on the beaver trade from the Aboriginal villages around Forts George and Alexandria on their way to the Pacific coast.

Quesnel Post
(1864 - 1904/1919), Quesnel
A Hudson's Bay Co. post at the mouth of the Quesnel River. Relocated to a new site in 1866. A store was built in 1882 on the main north-south trail alongside the Fraser River (HBC records end in 1904). Sold to private interests in 1919. The log building still exists, restored in the 1960's and now maintained by the city.

Quesnel was established in September 1866 at the mouth of the Quesnel River. In 1867 Quesnel replaced Fort Alexandria as the main supply depot for the New Caledonia District (Quesnel, Fort Alexandria, and Barkerville came under control of the Cariboo District in June 1867). By 1900 the post at Quesnel was located on HBC property at Lots 8 and 9 of Block 1 in the town of Quesnel. Quesnel was closed in May 1919.

Barkerville Post
(1851 - 1884), Barkerville
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. A small store was built in 1867 behind a saloon. Most of the town was burned down in 1868. A new store was built on a new lot in 1880, before it was closed.

The HBC established a store in the gold mining town of Barkerville situated on Williams Creek, at the confluence of the Quenel and Fraser Rivers, in 1867. In 1868 a fire destroyed most of the town, however, the HBC store survived. In 1880 the HBC purchased a new building and lot and conducted its business from this location until it closed its store in 1884. Barkerville also served as the headquarters of the Cariboo District from 1867-1884.

Fort Kluskus
(1844 - unknown), near Nazco
A Hudson's Bay Co. post that replaced Fort Chilcotin. Located at the Kluskus Lakes west of town. This post also did not succeed due to Indian indifference and unrest.

Fort Essington
(1835 - unknown), near Bella Coola
A Hudson's Bay Co. post on the Bella Coola River. It lasted only a few years.

Bella Coola Post
(1867 - 1883), Bella Coola
A Hudson's Bay Co. post. Also, or originally, known as Salmon River Post. It was later sold to private interests who continued operations into the early 1900's.

Bella Coola was established at the head of Bentinck Arm, on the mainland of British Columbia by Captain Herbert G. Lewis in 1867. In 1870 Bella Bella was established as an outpost of Bella Coola. Both Bella Coola and Bella Bella were closed in 1883 and their goods and supplies were sent to Fort Simpson. The buildings at both posts were rented to Bella Bella postmaster John Clayton who subsequently continued the trade on his own account.

Spider Island Radar Station
(1943 - 1945), Spider Island
An RCAF Chain Home Low early warning air defence radar was located here, south of Bella Bella at the southern entrance to Queens Sound, within the present-day Hakai Luxvbalis Conservancy Area.

Bella Bella WWII Defences
(1940's), Bella Bella
A two-gun 75mm AMTB battery and an AA battery were located here to protect the military seaplane base.

Fort McLoughlin
(1833 - 1843, 1870 - 1882), Campbell Island FORT WIKI
A Hudson's Bay Company post within Milbanke Sound. Exact location undetermined, probably on the island's northeast side near Old Bella Bella (Waglisla). Also known as Bella Bella Post. Abandoned for Fort Victoria, although the site was still intermittently used as an outpost until 1882. No remains.

Fort McLoughlin was established on an island near Millbank Sound in August 1833 by Duncan Finlayson, Donald Manson, and William H. McNeill. The post was abandoned by the HBC in 1843.

Bella Bella was established as an outpost of Bella Coola in 1870, at the site of the former Fort McLoughlin. The buildings at Bella Bella were erected by a petty trader in 1866, and were left to the HBC to cover the trader's debts in 1870. Both Bella Bella and Bella Coola were closed in 1883 and their goods and supplies were sent to Fort Simpson. The buildings at both posts were rented to Bella Bella postmaster John Clayton who subsequently continued the trade on his own account into the early 1900's.

NOTE: Many of the Hudson's Bay Company post descriptions are courtesy of the HBC Archives.

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