British Columbia History

1778 Captain James Cook claimed the coast for the British Isles.

1788 East India Company built a trading post at Nootka.

1789 A Spanish party settled in Nootka.

1795 Spain renounced claims to the area.

1843 The Hudson’s Bay Company founded Fort Victoria.

1846 The 49th Parallel Treaty was created.

1849 Vancouver Island became a Crown colony, with Victoria as the capital.

1858 The mainland became a Crown colony, with New Westminster as the capital.

1860 The Cariboo gold rush began.

1866 The colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia were united.

1869 Victoria became the capital of both former colonies.

1871 The Province of British Columbia was formed on 20 July 1871.

1885 The Canadian Pacific Railway line was completed to the coast.