Vector de Stock Premium de Backwoods Hotel, Leechtown, British Columbia, 1865

DESCRIPTION

Vintage engraving showing a Backwoods Hotel, Leechtown, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, 1865. Gold was discovered on the Leech River in July 1864. Within weeks, thousands of miners, had travelled from Victoria overland by trail or by steamer to Sooke. By August 14 of that same year, 227 mining licences had been issued and by the end of the year there were 6 general stores and 3 hotels in business along with 30 saloons.