Story of the Island
Long
ago the Columbia River carved through the Selkirk Mountains forming a major
valley. The ice age buried the river and mountain tops with glaciers. As
the ice melted into the valley the Columbia River had, at times, many river
channels. Zuckerberg Island may have been formed as a lag deposit within
this channeling. The attraction of the island drew Alexander Zuckerberg to
establish his special island home. Zuckerberg Island remains not only a place
of beuaty, but also a legacy to its historical past. Alexander Feodorovitch
Zuckerberg was trained as a civil engineer. He taught mathematics in a Russian
high school until 1917, then he immigrated to Canada in 1923 with his second
wife, Alicia, and son and daughter, Gilbert and Asta. In 1931 he came to
Castlegar at the request of Peter Verigin II to teach the Doukhobor children.
Shortly afterwards, he settled on the island and began building the Chapel
House. He was a Tolstoyan and his lifestyle reflected his admiration for
the great Russian writer, humanitarian, and pacifist. Zuckerberg was as unique
as his work and was greatly admired to this day, particularly by the Doukhobors
Hiroshima Memorial
On
August 6, 1985 this garden memorial was placed in remembrance of the 40th
anniversary of the atomic bomb drop on Hiroshima, Japan. This Japanese maple
tree is the focus of the peace garden.
Kekuli
This island served as a winter base to a Lakes band of Interior Salishan
people from at least 3500 years ago to recent times. Above is a reconstructed
version of one of their small pit houses. A single entrance was through the
rectangular small hole in the centre of the roof. A pit house was warm in
the winter, but in spite of cedar bark lining, it had uncomfortable water
seepage from the ground. Remains of pits can be found on the south slope
of the island near the Chapel House.
Salmon Fishing River
Salish and Kutenai Indians caught up to 1000 pounds of salmon a day with
basket traps which were placed at the base of a river cascade. It is thought
that they also constructed a weir, or dike of round stones extending across
the river to trap fish. This beach area was used for drying and storing fish
reserves. Beginning in 1934 with the Grand Coulee, a series of dams were
built on the Columbia River preventing the Pacific salmon migration.
A message to park visitors
Help us protect Zuckerberg Island Heritage Park. Please leave it as you have
found it so that future visitors may enjoy the park as you have. Ask a park
guide for further information about the park or call (250) 365-6440 or
Contact
Us by email.
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