Gold was the element that turned British Columbia's interior plateau from an unknown wilderness into a region of thriving settlements and frenetic activity. As news of its discovery fi ltered to the outside world, adventurers, opportunists and suppliers from around the globe converged on the region's new towns or built even newer ones close to their claims. Van Winkle, Swamp River, Antler and many more settlements sprang up, only to fade quickly when the glitter ran out. But two towns were vital enough to survive: Quesnel, at the confl uence of the Quesnel and Fraser rivers; and Barkerville, where many of the richest strikes were made. Th is is their story, and the story of one of the most romantic episodes in western Canadian history - the Cariboo Gold Rush. Gordon Elliott fi rst wrote this classic account of the Cariboo's early history almost fi fty years ago. Revised and reissued in 1978, it is off ered here once again, this time with a new forward by Blanca Schorcht. Elliott was one of the fi rst staff hired by Simon Fraser University when it opened in 1965. Nearly 40 years later, he continues to serve as Professor Emeritus of English at SFU. Elliott has spent many years combining his interest in history with considerable writing, research and editing skills, providing assistance and furthering the study of British Columbia history, with works including Klondike Cattle Drive and British Columbia: A Centennial Anthology.

When gold was discovered on the Fraser River, the rush was on. By early spring of 1858 the need for shelter, food, rest stops and stores became very apparent, as miners and would-be-miners made their way up into the hinterland. From Yale to Barkerville, roadhouses sprung up along the Cariboo's gold-rush trail. From their crude beginning, the roadhouses soon grew to be more than just stopovers. The roadhouses are gone, but the communities, villages, towns and cities remain. Golden Nuggets, with pictures and written text, brings the roadhouses back to life and gives us a glimpse of yesterday.

The stories of the men and women who dug for gold on Williams Creek are told in this revised and updated edition of a Canadian bestseller. The legendary town of Barkerville is flourishing today, just as it did more than 150 years ago, but this time under the care of professional and amateur historians. Richard Thomas Wright peels back the pages of history as he unearths the area’s history and chronicles the fortunes and the follies of gold-rush-era Barkerville. The result of years of around-the-world research, Barkerville and the Cariboo Goldfields brings to life the men and women of the creeks who came in search of gold and left their mark on BC history. Wright mined the archives to bring forth new information on the development of the Cariboo goldfields and nearby places of interest. Barkerville includes dozens of little-known historical photos and a complete index. It is the best, most comprehensive source of detailed information on this important national heritage site.