The Gateway City for Southeast Alaska and the fishing
center of the Northwest. Prince Rupert is the terminal for auto/passenger
ferries to and from Alaskan coastal communities, the Queen Charlotte
Islands and Vancouver Island. Its harbor is the 3rd largest
ice-free harbor in the world.
The 17,500 inhabitants of this city enjoy a marine climate
with summer temperatures in the mid 70's, and winter temperatures
in the 30's. Situated on Kaien Island at the mouth of the Skeena
River, Prince Rupert is 170 ft. above sea level and has an average
annual precipitation of 95 inches..
History Incorporated in 1910, the city began as a tent camp
and western construction terminal for the Grand Trunk Pacific
Railway, which became the Canadian National Railway. Later the
CNR Docks were added and the city became a major seaport
for foreign ships taking on exports such as fish and timber products—mainstays
of the local economy.
"Prince Rupert" was a cousin of Charles II
of England - He was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia and was the
first governor of the Hudson's Bay Company although he never visited
Canada.
Prince Rupert Visitor InfoCentre is located in the Atlin Terminal, on the waterfront in
Cow Bay, and is open year-round. 100-215 Cow Bay Road, 1-800-667-1994.
Local information is also
available at the Park Avenue Campground, 1750 Park Avenue,
Box 612, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 3R5. Summer hours 9 to 9 daily,
but 9 to midnight on BC Ferry nights. May 15 to September 30.
BC radio—dial 860 AM or
CHTK radio—dial 560 AM. Weather, road reports, and news
(including information on local events), are among the CBC
radio programs broadcast..
Post Office at Rupert Square
Mall and on the corner of 2nd Avenue and 2nd Street.
Emergency only 911; Prince
Rupert Regional Hospital, 1395 Summit Avenue, 250-624-2171. Fire
250-624-2211.
Propane/Water/Dump There is water and a dump
station at Park Avenue Campground 1750 Park Ave.
Crest Hotel. with over
100 deluxe rooms, cocktail lounge, dining room, coffee shop,
and convention facilities for 200 persons. 222 First Avenue
West, Box 277B, Prince Rupert, BC; 250-624-6771 or 1-800-663-8150
Moby Dick Inn 64 spacious
rooms with color TV some harbor views available. In-room coffee,
direct dial phones, sauna, swirlpool, and cable TV. Restaurant
and cocktail lounge. 935 - 2nd Avenue West, 250-624-6961 or toll
free 1-800-663-0822
Camping Park Avenue Campground 1750 Park Avenue, 250-624-5861 or 1-800-667-1994. ¾ km
from ferry terminals on Highway 16. 87 serviced and unserviced
sites, 30-amp electricity, showers and restrooms, sani-station,
telephone, laundry. Open year-round.
Prince Rupert RV Campground 1750
Park Avenue, Box 612, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 3R5; 250-624-5861
or 1-800-624-5861. 3/4 km from ferry terminals on Highway 16.
87 serviced and unserviced sites, 30-amp electricity, showers
and restrooms, sani-station, telephone, laundry. Open
year-round.
Shopping Most stores and gift shops open 9 to 6, Mon. to Sat.,
9 to 9 on Fridays. There are two malls and many other stores here.
Prints Rupert 250-624-5717.
Fine art prints, limited editions, west coast native art.
Now featuring the art of Roy Henry Vickers, Tsimshian Artist.
Downstairs in Rupert Square Shopping Centre.
Shutter Shack 250-624-4233.
A complete line of photographic equipment and accessories,
1-hour photo finishing, digital photo services. Rupert Square
Mall. Editor's note: This is one of the most complete camera stores
in the north.
Fishing Charter Fishing and Harbor Tours.
A variety of charter boats operate out of Prince Rupert. See the
other side of the city's scenic harbor and bring a picnic
lunch, visit the beach of a deserted island and comb its shores,
or fish in a secluded cove or channel during the fishing season.
Alaska
State Ferry System. Regular ferry service between Prince
Rupert and the Alaskan Panhandle communities is provided by
the Alaska State Ferry system. Reservations are an absolute
must during the summer. Information on passenger/vehicle
rates, schedules and staterooms can be obtained from the
Alaska Marine Highway, Box 25535, Juneau, AK 99802-5535, or
toll free in USA and Canada 1-800-642-0066 or 907-465-3941 or
fax 907-277-4829.
BC
Ferries. For a scenic cruise through the Inside Passage
of British Columbia's unique coastline, take the BC Ferry from
Port Hardy (northern tip of Vancouver Island) or Prince Rupert
on the BC Northcoast mainland. Frequent sailings are scheduled
between these two points during the summer months as well
as between Prince Rupert and Skidegate in the Queen Charlotte
Islands. Because of the extreme popularity of the summer sailings,
advance reservations are definitely recommended. Information
about schedules, fares and staterooms can be obtained
from BC Ferries, 1112 Fort Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 4V2,
250-386-3431 fax 250-381-5452. Anywhere else in BC 1-888-BCFERRY
(223-3779). Out of province call 250-386-3431.
Buses. Greyhound Bus Lines
serves Prince Rupert daily with connections to the rest
of Canada. Box 445, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1L7; 250-624-5090, 1-800-661-1145.
Hawkair provides flights
to Masset with its partner airline TK Air starting May 12, 2003.
Up to 3 flights daily connect Prince Rupert to Masset, QCI. Toll
free in Canada 1-866-429-5247 or 1-800-487-1216.
Pet Boarding can be arranged by
the S.P.C.A. Animal Shelter, 2200 Seal Cove Rd., Prince
Rupert, BC V8J 1G0; 250-624-2859; or Veterinary Services, 975
Chamberlain, Box 725, Prince Rupert, BC V8J 3S1, 250-627-1161.
VIA Rail -leaves Prince Rupert
Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Arrives Monday, Thursday and Saturday.
250-627-7589 1-800-VIA-RAIL or US 1-800-561-3949.
Things
To Do Breakers Pub - The Prince
Rupert Co-op erected the building in 1940. It was called 'the
most imposing structure to be erected on the waterfront.
Breakers opened for business in 1985 and offers a deck on the
water side which cannot be beat when the sun is shining.
Carving Shed one block from the
new museum site houses some of the finest modern artisans
of Northwest artwork. They work in silver, copper and gold as
well as argillite (which is exclusive to the Haidas of the Queen
Charlotte Islands).
Civic Centre on McBride St. has
an arena (roller skating), gym, squash courts. 624-6707.
Cow Baywas originally
named Cameron Cove. When the first dairy herd arrived in 1906,
no dock had yet been built. Legend has it that the cows had
to jump into the water and swim ashore, and where they landed
became known as “Cow Bay”. Today, this waterfront
district is a shopping and dining district with a number of
historic buildings.
Cow Bay Gift Galley- built
in 1947 by Greer and Bridden Construction for the Prince
Rupert Fishermen's Co-op as an expansion of the Fishermen's
Supply (now Breakers Pub). It was built with second-hand (recycled?)
materials. The "netloft" upstairs was used to repair
nets and tar the groudlines for halibut fishing. Greer
& Bridden bought it in the late 1980's as the base
for their construction company. It was purchased in 1993 by
the owner of Cow Bay Gift Galley and Cow Bay B & B.
There is now a pottery studio in the "Loft" and a
sushi bar.
Golf Course. An 18-hole golf course
is located at the foot of Mt. Oldfield, just 5 minutes
from downtown Prince Rupert. Visitors are welcome. Call 250-624-2000
for tee times.
Guided and Self-Guided Walking Tour. A walking tour has been laid out to cover the city's historic
and scenic points of interest. Maps are available at the
Visitors Bureau.
Firehall Museum - located
in the present Fire Station. Central focus of exhibit
is a 1925 REO Speedwagon Fire Engine which was purchased new
and retired from Prince Rupert use when a more modern
engine was commissioned. The engine was reclaimed from
the bush and rebuilt by Corps personnel. Admission by donation.
Kwinitsa Railway Museum exhibiting
the railway history of Prince Rupert and the surrounding area.
This is an original Grand Trunk Railway station that was
situated 45 miles East of Prince Rupert, at Kwinitsa, on the
Skeena River and was moved by barge to its present location.
250-627-1915, Winter 250-624-3207.
Museum of Northern British Columbia Enter and experience the magnificent architecture of a Northwest
Coast longhouse. In the Great Hall view exhibits that portray
history and culture dating back to the end of the last ice age.
North Pacific Historic Fishing Villageis the oldest and most complete remaining cannery
village on the North Coast. Today a museum and Canadian National
Historic Site, it pays tribute to the people who lived and worked
in the more than 200 salmon canneries that once dotted the B.C.
coastline. Guided tours, live performance and mouth-watering
food.
Old Field Creek Hatchery. 250-624-6733.
Located on Wantage Road. Tours of this facility are offered
daily during the summer months.
Performing Arts Centre. The Performing
Arts Centre is located at the corner of Highway 16 (McBride
St.) and Wantage Road. Info on what's playing can be obtained
from 627-8888.
Smiles Restaurant - history
dates back to 1922 when it started as an ice cream and hot dog
stand. Sold in 1936 to Harry and Dolly Nelson it took the name
from Dolly who was known for her smile. Since 1922 it has
had seven owners and is a local institution.
Totem Poles. The Pacific
Northwest is the home of the Tsimpsean and Haida native
Indian peoples. Scattered throughout Prince Rupert are numerous
totem poles which are authentic reproductions of historic and
famous poles. Totem poles are carved from cedar and were
raised as a public record of some important event in native
history. There are six different types of poles and the average
life span of a totem pole is 70 years.
Prince Rupert Visitor InfoCentre is located in the Atlin Terminal, on the waterfront in
Cow Bay, and is open year-round. 100-215 Cow Bay Road, 1-800-667-1994.
