While the community of Yale is small now (less than 200 population), it was once the largest city north of San Francisco and west of Chicago! During the gold rush era in the late 19th century, more than 15k people lived here.

Yale was located at the start of the 1865 Cariboo Gold Rush route and also later served at the headquarters of the first transcontinental railway in North America.

The Yale Historic Site (admission fee required) shares this story, featuring exhibits, interactive gold panning and one of BC's oldest churches.