Stewart

History

The Nisga'a First Nation, who lived around the Nass River, called the head of Portland Canal Skam-A-Kounst, meaning "safe house" or "strong house", probably because it served them as a retreat from the harassment of the Haida and Tlingit from the outer coast. They travelled in the area seasonally to pick berries and hunt birds. It and the rest of the Portland Canal had been the domain of the Tsetsaut people, also called the Skam-a-Kounst Indians, or Jits'aawit in Nisga'a, an Athapaskan people who became decimated by war and disease and were driven out of the Stewart area by either Haida or Nisga'a in 1856-57.
The Portland Canal was explored and named in July 1793 by Captain George Vancouver in honour of William Henry Cavendish Bentinck, 3rd Duke of Portland (1738-1808), Home Secretary from 1794 to 1801. The area around the Portland Canal was again explored in 1896 by Captain D.D. Gaillard of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (after whom the Gaillard Cut in the Panama Canal was later named). Two years after Gaillard's visit, the first prospectors and settlers arrived. Among them was D.J. Raine, for whom a creek and a mountain in the area are named. The Stewart brothers arrived in 1902. In 1905, Robert M. Stewart, the first postmaster, named the town Stewart.
Gold and silver mining dominated the early economy. Nearby Hyder, Alaska, boomed with the discovery of rich silver veins in the upper Salmon River basin in 1917 and 1918. Hyder became an access and supply point for the mines, while Stewart served as the port for Canadian mining activity, which was centred on the town of Premier, which was accessed by a 23-km road from Hyder. Other mines in the area were the Jumbo, BC Silver, Red Cliff, and Porter-Idaho. More large camps were south of Stewart at Anyox and Maple Bay.
Stewart had a population of about 10,000 prior to World War I, which has fallen to less than 500.

By plane

• Stewart AerodromeA private airfield on the eastern side of the town with no scheduled flights.

The nearest airport with scheduled flights is in Terrace.

By car

Stewart is about 6 hr from Prince Rupert (take Highway 16 east to Kitwanga, then Highway 37A north), and 8hr 40min from Prince George (take Highway 16 west to Kitwanga, then Highway 37A north)
Driving distances from:

• Highway 1 North

• Highway 37 South

• Salmon Glacier: An impressive glacier viewpoint that is car-accessible. Access only via Hyder, Alaska. About an hour's drive from downtown Stewart.

• Stewart Museum

  phone: +1-250-636-2229
  address: 703 Brightwell Street,
  Two floors of this museum will give you a detailed understanding of the history of Stewart and its 100 years of mining. The museum is inside the historic Government Agent building, and is open seasonally from May-September.

• Bear watching around Stewart, and during the Salmon run specifically at Fish Creek near Hyder (Alaska side)

• Bear Glacier Provincial Park

  address: Glacier Highway 37A
  A picturesque glacier flowing into a lake next to the highway on the way to Stewart. Bear Glacier Park lies within the Nass Wildlife area and protects part of a large glacier and a glacial lake. The day-use area in this park has been closed. Visitors can still view Bear Glacier from Hwy 37 pull-out which is directly across from Bear Glacier. For an alternative day-use picnicking area, Meziadin Lake Provincial Park is approximately 30 km east of Bear Glacier.

• Estuary Boardwalk

  address: 222 5th Ave
  Runs from the main road via a pleasant garden over the estuary. You can see the bay and the backdrop of cascading waterfalls, stunning snow-capped mountains and glaciers. A 30-60 minute walk with descriptive panels.

• Boya Lake Provincial Park

  phone: +1 250-638-8490
  Scenic camping and a wide variety of water recreation. Boya Lake is on the Liard Plain, an area carved out by glaciers 20,000 years ago. The area is characterized by elongated ridges, or drumlins and eskers. Boya Lake is one of the few lakes in the north that is warm enough for swimming. Boya Lake offers two short hiking trails, a mountain bike trail and limitless bays and islands to discover by canoe or motor boat. 4,597 hectares. 44 vehicle accessible campsites available mid-May through Sep, 10 of which can be reserved mid-May to early September. $20 per party per night.

• Toastworks

  phone: +1 250-636-2344
  address: Main Street
  Breakfast or lunch. The restaurant hosts a collection of antique toasters, coffee and tea percolators, heaters and other household items.

• Silverado Cafe and Pizza Parlour

  phone: +1 250-636-2727
  address: 309 5th Avenue
  Pizza, burgers, tacos....

• Temptation Bakery and Deli

  phone: +1 250-636-2777
  address: 307 5th Ave

Get 'hyderized' across the border in Hyder.

• Ripley Creek Inn

  phone: +1 250 636 2344
  address: 306 5th Avenue
  Offers rooms in buildings that began as prospectors' cabins, old stores, lodges and even a former brothel.

• King Edward Hotel and Motel

  phone: +1 250-636-2244
  30 hotel rooms and 20 motel units with kitchenettes and drive up comfort. All rooms have private bath, air conditioning, cable TV. Non-smoking and pet friendly rooms are available. King's Table Dining Room restaurant and Casey's Pub onsite.

• B&B Austria/Stewart Mountain Lodge

  phone: +1 250-636-2831
  address: 603 10th Ave

• Bear River RV Park

  phone: +1 250-636-9205
  address: 2200 Davis St
  68 full service sites and dry/tenting areas. Located at the head waters of the Portland Canal. Forests of the giant Sitka Spruce, and the ocean is right at your feet. There is ample opportunity to view wildlife, bears and eagles feeding on salmon. Good fishing is also available.

• Rainey Creek Municipal Campground

  phone: +1 250-636-2537
  address: West End of 8th Ave
  Shaded sites and grassy camping areas. Coin-showers, fire pits, a pay phone, a covered eating pavilion, playground, sale of firewood, horseshoe pits. 98 sites. Adjoining the campground is the Ian McLeod Memorial Playground with access along a scenic path beside the Rainey Creek, or street access from Highway 37a.

There are frequently bears around the area, it is thus important to stay bear safe, especially when camping.