The History of Revelstoke.

Founded in the 1880s during Canada’s railway boom, Revelstoke owes much of its early development to the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). The railway established Revelstoke as one of the primary transportation centers in Interior BC and catapulted the city’s infrastructure to include facilities like an Opera House, a fully-equipped YMCA gymnasium, a Humes Department Store (the Home Depot of the early 1900s) and many other prominent businesses. Alongside the railway, mining and forestry were essential to Revelstoke’s early economy.

Interestingly, Revelstoke was originally named Farwell, after local surveyor A.S. Farwell, with its town center located on Front Street. When the CPR reached Farwell, the railway sought to rename the settlement to honor Lord Revelstoke, a British banker whose financial support was crucial in completing the railway. This naming dispute escalated into a court case between Farwell and the CPR, delaying the town’s growth. Eventually, the settlement was incorporated as the City of Revelstoke in 1899.

While the railway forms the backbone of Revelstoke’s history, skiing also holds a strong legacy in the community. In the early 1900s, Scandinavian families brought their love of the sport to Revelstoke, leading to the establishment of the Revelstoke Ski Club in 1915. The club was primarily focused on ski-jumping and hosted the International Tournament of Champions with athletes travelling from around the globe to participate in the event. Local hero Nels Nelson set a world record with his 250 foot jump in 1925 – the historical ski jump can still be visited today via a short hike in Mount Revelstoke National Park!

To delve deeper into Revelstoke’s interesting past, visit the Revelstoke Museum and Archives website or stop by their location at 315 First Street West on your next trip downtown!