The Wells Museum offers school tours of historic Wells in May and June.

70 years after Billy Barker's strike on Williams Creek was responsible for the establishment of Barkerville, Fred Wells discovered lode deposits in Cow Mountain aand founded the town of Wells. These lode deposits were thought by many to be the source of Barkerville's early riches, and caused the area to boom once again. But while Barkerville grew up helter-skelter at the whims of individual entrepreneurs, Wells was a company town, carefully planned to encourage the development of a healthy, close-knit community.

A visit to Wells is an exellent addition to your Barkerville program. The similarities and differences between the two gold rushes will increase your students understanding of the processes of settlement and resource extraction that built this province.

Grades 3-12 -- Mining the Motherlode

This 1 to 1 1/2 hour program consists of a museum visit and a guided walk though the Wells Heritage Area. Views of the two historic mines allow a discussion of mining and milling processes. The tour will cover the building of the company town, the lifestyle in the town, the relationship of the development of the mines in Wells to the earlier gold rush in Barkerville, as well as a comparison between mining in Barkerville and Wells. Teachers will receive a Teacher's Resource Guide to facilitate classroom review.

Cost:$1.50/student (Teachers and chaperones free)

Scavenger hunts are also available.

For more information or to book a tour contact:
(250)994-3349 (until May)
(250)994-3422 (May and June)