What is the Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names?

Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names

by Andrew Scott

In 1909, Captain John T. Walbran published one of the most beloved and enduring of all BC books, British Columbia Coast Names. Harbour Publishing celebrates the hundredth anniversary of that landmark work by presenting the first book to update Walbran’s classic, Andrew Scott’s Encyclopedia of Raincoast Place Names.

Raincoast Place Names tells the often fascinating stories behind the names and in so doing serves as a history of the region in capsule form. It is also a monumental work, twice the size of Walbran’s and including almost three times as many places. Scott details the intriguing tales behind more than five thousand places: explaining who bestowed the names and why, and what the names reveal. He describes the original First Nation cultures, the heroics of the 18th-century explorers and fur traders, the gruelling survey and settlement efforts of the 19th century, the lives of colonial officials, missionaries, gold seekers and homesteaders, and the histories of nearly every important vessel to sail or cruise the BC coast.

The book also examines—for the first time—the rich heritage of BC place names added in the 20th century. These new entries reflect the world of the steamship era, the ships and skippers of the Union and CPR lines, the heroes of the two World Wars, the sealing fleet and BC’s fishing, canning, mining and logging industries.

Generously illustrated with photos and maps, this encyclopedia is an essential reference work, a must-have guide for boaters and mariners and a companion for anyone interested in BC history.

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