FIRST - Road constructed from the City of New Westminster toward the International Boundary — Surrey, BC
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Dunbar Loop
N 49° 11.351 W 122° 51.686
10U E 510096 N 5448496
During the mid-19 century there weren't many roads in this area. Most travel was by water. However the Semiahmoo Trail was the first link between New Westminster and the United States.
Waymark Code: WMP1R4
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 06/11/2015
Views: 3
During the Fraser Canyon gold rush the Colony of British Columbia was established in 1858. Originally the capital would be Derby, but that location was thought to be undefensible should an invasion from Washington Territory would happen. The capital switched to New Westminster.
With all the focus on the gold rush and just getting the basics of a colony together there wasn't much priority on building roads, the waterway networks of sea, rivers, and lakes were adequate to the needs of the early colony. However as a steamer service was going to link Semiahmoo in Washington Territory to Port Townsend and other American ports on Puget Sound, the government thought it would be a good investment to build a road between New Westminster and Semiahmoo. Thus the first road -- the Semiahmoo Trail -- linking the colonial capital to the United States was constructed in 1861.
This monument is located
on the route of the
SEMIAHMOO TRAIL
BUILT 1861.
The Semiahmoo Trail was the
FIRST road constructed from
The City of New Westminster
toward the International Boundary
Erected by
The British Columbia Government
Travel Bureau.
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