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VOYAGEURS & COURS-DE-BOIS
One of the most famous historical figures linked with the Peace River region was Henry Fuller Davis, best known as “Twelve Foot Davis”. Born in New England (most likely Vermont) c. 1820 Davis spent much of his early life in the pursuit of gold, starting with the California Gold Rush in the late 1840s. In the early 1860s he traveled to northern British Columbia and participated in the Caribou Gold Rush. There he found a 12 foot long gap between two very productive claims which he filed on. His claim earned him $10,000 to $20,000, a very large sum of money for the time, and gained him the nickname of “Twelve Foot”.
Davis spent the last three decades of this life operating as a “free trader” on the Peace River beginning with a post near Hudson’s Hope. In 1865 he opened a post at Fort Dunvegan directly across from the Hudson’s Bay Company. By the late 1880s Davis opened a post at Fort Vermilion and operated it until his death in 1900.
The statue of “Twelve Foot Davis” was carved in 1961 by Kaj Neilsen of Victoria, B.C., a well known Canadian wood carver. The 15 foot tall statue weighs a ton and is made of laminated cedar. It has been refinished twice (in 1996 and 2006) since it was first erected. Originally located near the Heart River Bridge the statue was relocated to Riverfront Park in 1996.
Neilson’s statue is symbolic in nature and is not meant to be a portrait of Davis. The base of the statue reads: “Legend of Twelve Foot Davis. Pathfinder, Pioneer, Miner and Trader. He was every man’s friend, and never locked his cabin door.”
BASIC INFO
GeoTourism Canada Site #: GS80
Site Ownership: Town of Peace River
Opened: ####
Closed: ####
Operated by: n/a
Site Size:
Further Reading:
J.G. MacGregor. The Land of Twelve-Foot Davis.
Peace River Remembers.
PUBLIC ACCESS
Access: The public has access to the site
Hours:
After Hour Availability:
Admission:
PAID ADVERTISEMENT
CREDITS
Author: Dallas Wood
Date: 2007
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