B.C. Gold Rushes
Fraser River Gold Rush, 1858 - 1863
Gold was discovered in the Fraser River after miners discovered some gold deposits in the Thompson River. Miners were led to believe gold could be in the Fraser River because of how it connects with the Thompson River. The rush was centered around the towns Hope and Yale, to Pabilion and Fountain. What's interesting is that once the gold started to become sparse, miners spread out into other parts of British Columbia's interior, which is when they discovered the gold waiting in what would later be called the Cariboo Gold Rush.
Why are we here?
As individuals with teaching experience, we know how difficult it can be to engage and motivate our learners. Often times, students are uninterested with topics that we, teachers, are mandated to cover by the government. I want to explore ways in which we can engage students in learning about historical events and will use two famous gold rushes in British Columbia's past as my benchmark. Hopefully, after exploring this website, you will be able to answer the question: How can I engage and motivate my students in learning about historical topics that they might be uninterested in and disconnected from?
Gold Rushes:
what are they ?
A gold rush is defined as a period in time when there is a dramatic discovery of gold deposits. As a result, a vast amount of migration workers are drawn to the area.
Famous Gold Rushes in British Columbia, Canada
The Cariboo Gold Rush, 1861 - 1867
The Cariboo Gold Rush is the most famous gold rush of British Columbia. The first gold discovery was made in 1859 on the Horsefly River, and then there were more gold discoveries on Keithley Creek and Antler Creek in 1860. However, the Cariboo Gold Rush did not gain steam until it was made widely public in 1861. Come 1865 and there were multiple gold strikes along Williams Creek, too. The town to be made most famous from the Cariboo Gold Rush was Barkerville. Now, Barkerville is a heritage site and tourist attraction.
