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Official Website of Tourism Whistler.
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, featuring Whistler Blackcomb affordable Whistler accommodations, vacation packages, online bookings, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, golf, festivals and events, road reports, snow reports, weather, maps and transportation providers.

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History

First Nations History of Whistler - read about the Coast Salish First Nations' history and their imprint in the Whistler area.

Modern History of Whistler - read about the last 100 years of Whistler and its evolution into the Number One Ski Resort in North America.

First Nations History of Whistler

The Coast Salish First Nations people inhabited the land around Whistler for many thousands of years, hunting and gathering and living a nomadic lifestyle long before European settlers arrived.

The Whistler Valley was an isolated wilderness frequented by the Lil'wat Nation from the Mount Currie area and the Squamish Nation who lived in an area stretching from present day North Vancouver to the Squamish River watershed and the northern area of Howe Sound (Gibson's Landing).

Whistler was often a way point for First Nation trading routes between the Squamish and Lil'wat Nations as it was rich with wildlife and resources. At one time tens of thousands of Coast Salish First Nations people lived, traded and thrived in the areas between Vancouver, Howe Sound and the Lillooett areas.

In fact, some of the hiking routes between Howe Sound and Deep Cove (east of Vancouver) are the same routes traveled on by the Coast Salish First Nations peoples.

For more information in Whistler visit The Path Gallery or Armchair Books for a selection of books on First Nations culture.

Discover more on First Nations in the What's New section

Update: A talented Squamish First Nations artist had his work chosen to welcome visitors and represent Whistler/Vancouver during the Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. Read more...

Weetama - First Nations Cultural Festival

At one time, Whistler hosted a summer First Nations cultural festival known as Weetama. It featured First Nations' celebrations, dancers, food and cultural seminars. The opening of the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre in Summer 2008 will build upon the interest the Weetama festival generated.

 

First Nations Website Resources

Modern History of Whistler

1877 The Pemberton Trail is completed linking the Pemberton valley to the Pacific coast, north of Vancouver.
1900 Trappers and prospectors settle in the area. Alta Lake is the original name of Whistler. The name "Whistler" is used by these settlers because of the shrill whistle sound made by the western hoary marmots who live among the rocks.
1910 Myrtle and Alex Philip arrive in Vancouver from Maine. They hear about Whistler's spectacular beauty.
1911 Myrtle and Alex take the three day journey to Whistler: a steamer ship from Vancouver to Squamish, overnight in Brackendale, and a two-day horse trek to Whistler.
1914 Myrtle and Alex buy ten acres of land and build the Rainbow Lodge on the shores of Alta Lake.
1914 The Great Pacific Eastern Railway (now BC Rail) is built to Alta Lake and links the valley to the outside world. Whistler becomes a base for logging and mining. Myrtle and Alex's Rainbow Lodge is the most popular resort destination west of Banff and Jasper. Way to go, Myrtle!
1950's Other lodges open throughout the valley. The abundant fish stocks make Whistler a summer resort destination long before it is considered a winter one. Winter travel becomes possible when a gravel road to Squamish is carved from the cliffs of Howe Sound.
1964 The single-lane road is extended to Whistler because of the ski area development, and to Pemberton later that same year. The trip from Vancouver to Whistler took 5-6 hours.
1965 Whistler Mountain finally gets the name "Garibaldi Whistler Mountain". A four person gondola, a double chairlift, two T-bars, and a day lodge are constructed.
1966 Whistler officially opens for skiing.A two-lane gravel road built in 1965 was paved to Whistler and then to Pemberton by 1969.
1969 A two-lane gravel road built in 1965 was paved to Whistler and then to Pemberton by 1969
1977 The new municipality is given 53 acres of Crown land to develop a town centre.
1978 Construction begins on the new town centre that will eventually become Whistler Village.
1980 Blackcomb Mountain opens creating one of the largest ski complexes in North America.
1985 Blackcomb Mountain expands it's terrain and becomes North America's only "Mile High Mountain".
1992 Snow Country Magazine votes Whistler the "Number One Ski Resort in North America" and the trend continues for almost a decade.
1998 Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains merge under Intrawest Corporation.
2002 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) short lists Vancouver/Whistler as a Candidate City for hosting the 2010 Olympic Winter and Paralympic Winter Games.
2003 Whistler (and Vancouver) win the bid to host the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Games.
2003 Skiing Magazine votes Whistler Blackcomb the "Number One Ski Resort in North America"

Would you like to know more about Whistler history?

Visit the Whistler Museum & Archives
4329 Main Street
Whistler, BC
V0N 1B0
Phone: 1-604-932-2019
Fax:1-604-932-2077