A scenic 30-minute drive east of Prince Rupert on the Yellowhead Highway takes you to Port Edward. Here, another aspect of Prince Rupert's seafaring legacy can be experienced at the North Pacific Historic Fishing Village. Declared a National Historic Site on its 100th anniversary in 1989, the village is B.C.'s oldest surviving salmon cannery.
Built on pilings at the edge of the Skeena River, the cannery is typical of the hundreds of canneries which dotted the north coast at the turn of the last century. Fishermen, boat builders and cannery workers all lived and worked at these rural canneries. Sleeping quarters accommodated both the workers and their families who came to stay with them during the five-month period from May to September when the canning was done. It was not unusual for as many as two thousand people to be living and working on site.
The North Pacific Historic Fishing Village comprises 28 buildings. One of the original log buildings has been turned into a 15-room B&B. A wonderful cafe has also now taken the place of the original mess hall and specializes in serving seafood and aboriginal fry bread. In summer season, tours of the cannery are offered, and daily live performances of The Skeena River Story provide an entertaining look at life in a cannery village.
Fishing and hiking are also offered in the area around Port Edward, and camping and visitor services are available.
