Ashcroft Museum
Located in the brick "Dominion" building, built in 1917, the Ashcroft Museum is located at the corner of Brink and 4th Street. Originally the Village Post Office, the Ashcroft Museum moved into the building in 1980.
Considered one of the best museums located in any BC Village, the collection includes artifacts that date back to the early 1900's and and bears witness to Ashcroft's "Glory Days". Displays honour the local Indigenous People, the Chinese community and other pioneers of the area. Ranching, sports, and fossils exhibits are featured on the top floor, as well as one of the most popular displays “the coal mine.” The museum also features a changing display, and each year something new is showcased! The Museum also has extensive archives relating to the history and its pioneer families, and Museum staff is happy to assist visitors who are looking for information.
Entrance to the Museum is by donation and a lift enables visitors with mobility issues to access the main floor.
Upcoming Activities
No upcoming activities until next season
The History of Ashcroft
The history of the Ashcroft area begins long before the Cariboo Gold Rush of the 1860s. Indigenous people have been living in the area since time immemorial. The local nations include the Nlaka'pamux Nation, which includes the present day First Nations of Ashcroft Indian Band, Oregon Jack Creek Indian Band, and Cook's Ferry; and the Secwepemc Nation which includes the Bonaparte Indian Band.
Around the mid-1800s, the Nlaka'pamux people became involved in the European fur trade. The first settlers of European descent arrived in 1859, naming Ashcroft for their home in England, Ashcroft Manor. The community served as a transportation hub in the 1800s. The area served as Mile 0 for the road to the Cariboo goldfields and the BC Express Company was based here. Ashcroft was also home to the iconic Ashcroft Manor, a roadhouse built by the Cornwall brothers.
Ashcroft was incorporated in 1952 and is known for its historic character and has been a popular site for filming movies and TV series. Striking features of the community are the Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways which border the Thompson River, the river itself, and the sagebrush landscape surrounding the community.
Click on the links below to watch videos on Ashcroft’s fascinating history, or read about our history in weekly news letters