Viewing Object

The Hudson's Bay Company established Fort Langley in 1827 in present day Derby Reach Regional Park. It was moved upriver to its current site in 1839. The Fort was run as a provisioning station and farm. The Company moved out of the Fort in 1886. From 1888 into the 1920's the Mavis family ran a farm on the land. In the 1920s the Fort was recognized by the federal government's Historic Sites and Monuments Board, though by that time only one building remained. The land was purchased and from 1931 until 1958, the Native Sons operated a museum on the site. In 1955, the Fort was declared a National Historic Site. A few years later more buildings were reconstructed and much of the collection was moved to the Langley Centennial Museum. Today the Fort is run by Parks Canada.

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, was born 21 August 1930. She was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and sister of Queen Elizabeth II. She held the title Countess of Snowdon by marriage. Princess Margaret visited Fort Langley on July 22, 1958 as part of a tour of British Columbia to mark the centennial. She officially opened the restored Fort Langley Historic Site and toured the Langley Centennial Museum during her visit. She died on 9 February 2002.