Hudson's Hope

History

Fort Hudson's Hope was originally known as Rocky Mountain Portage Fort, built by Simon Fraser in the autumn of 1805 at the foot of the Rocky Mountain Canyon on the north bank of the river. Operated for a time by the Hudson's Bay Company after its coalition with the North West Company in 1821, it was abandoned in 1825 to punish the Indians for a massacre at Fort St. John in 1823.

New Hudson's Hope was built about 1875 on the south bank about 12 miles further upstream near the east end of the canyon, at its foot. Some time after 1880 this post was again moved to its present location on the north side, on a seven-acre site surveyed out and still remaining in the name of the Hudson's Bay Company, except for portions sold to the Anglican Church and the Hudson's Hope Historical Society. The town of Hudson's Hope is situated on an unbroken flat of land running parallel to the Peace River for five miles, with an average width of two miles.

Hudson's Hope continued to be an important navigational point because of the impassable rapids above the town. Settlers and supplies were freighted in from Lake Athabasca at first, then later from Peace River Crossing when the railway reached that point. The sternwheelers, beginning with Bishop Grouard's 'St. Charles' in 1903 broke the eternal silence of the North with their sharp whistles and easier ingress of settlers. This boat operated the 525 miles between the rapids called Vermilion Chutes to Hudson's Hope. In 1905 the Hudson's Bay Company put their sternwheeler, SS Peace River, into operation. It was a 110' long vessel that could carry 40 tons of freight.

In 1954 the population of Hudson's Hope was under 100. In 1965 it was 2,700. True to its erratic nature, Hudson's Hope in 1965 became an "Instant Municipality," the third in British Columbia, matching its status of being also the third oldest community in the Province of British Columbia. Its 400 square miles held the largest territory of any municipality in the province. During the Bennett Dam hey-day, activities in the town included no less than 37 recreation and service clubs, ranging in interest from music appreciation to fly-tying to sky diving. The Hudson's Hope Museum has it all recorded, like the proverbial "Diary of Fate."

Location

Hudson's Hope is located on the banks of the Peace River in the Rocky Mountain foothills of British Columbia, 90 kilometres west of Fort St. John and 66 kilometres north of Chetwynd on Highway 29.

Places to See

• W.A.C. Bennet Dam
  
  Twenty minutes from downtown Hudson's Hope, one of the largest earth-filled dams in the world offers scheduled tours of the underground powerhouse, a collection of hands-on exhibits, and a video presentation.
  
  
• Williston Lake
  
  Located behind the W.A.C. Bennet Dam, Williston Lake is the largest man-made reservoir in North America. It offers excellent fishing and boating, as well as the opportunity to find fossils in the surrounding area.
  
  
• Peace Canyon Dam
  
  This hydro-electric project can be seen from the Hudson's Hope Bridge. You will meet life-size dinosaur replicas in the Visitor Centre and find dinosaur tracks across a wall. A comprehensive photo history of the area is on display.
  
  
• Hudson's Hope Museum
  
  Indulge in those childhood dreams of becoming a famous explorer by discovering the finest collection of fossils in the Peace River area! Impress children and loved ones by showing them rare ichthyosaurs, hadrosaur tracks, mammoth teeth, and ammonites! And if this isn't enough to set your mind agog, there are displays detailing the history of the area, as well as a 1951 International fire truck in working order!
  
  

Things to Do

• Wildlife Viewing
  
  Bald eagles are in abundance and can be viewed and photographed throughout the year. Jamieson Woods Nature Preserve is home to many types of birds, including seven species of woodpeckers. Many species of big game animals, such as moose, elk, and bear, can be seen on the highways leading into the town. Deer roam daily through the streets, picking off fresh growth in flower beds. Because of this, some even call them pests!
  
  
• Outdoors Recreation
  
  Surrounded by lakes and rivers, Hudson's Hope offers a wide range of outdoor recreational activities, including excellent fishing, boating, water skiing, canoeing, hunting, camping, hiking, swimming, and sailing.

Events

• Rodeo and Parade
  
  Held every June, the annual Rodeo and Parade is a chance for newcomers to experience the wild west!
  
  
• Strawberry Festival
  
  Hear music, meet palaeontologists, buy cakes, and win prizes! There's always plenty to do at the annual Strawberry Festival!

Notable Comments

• Dudley the Dinosaur, beloved mascot of the town Hudson's Hope, was spotted recently at a local restaurant feasting upon an overcooked piece of steak. This has prompted fears that the scraps of food given to Dudley by naive tourists have helped him develop a taste for animal meat. Staff at the Hudson's Hope Museum speculate that Dudley will soon move from eating steak to eating humans. Perhaps there is some indication that he has already made this dietary shift. Although no one of any significance has gone missing yet, proprietors of the local motels have observed tourists who arrive and are gone by the next morning. Victims of Dudley?
  
  - John Mackenzie, in a letter to the Dawson Creek Inquirer
  
  
• "I like Hudson Hopes!"
  
  - Delores Clayburn, an enthusiastic four-year old from Kamloops

Contact Information

Hudson's Hope Visitor Centre

9555 Beattie Drive
Box 330
Hudson's Hope, BC V0C 1V0
Telephone: 250-783-9154
During Off-Season: 250-783-9901
Fax: 250-783-5741
E-mail: bulletin@dist.hudsons-hope.bc.ca
Website: http://dist.hudsons-hope.bc.ca