Laurier-Cascade Border Crossing facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Laurier-Cascade Border Crossing |
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US Border Inspection Station at Laurier, Washington
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| Location | |
| Country | United States; Canada |
| Location |
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| Coordinates | 49°00′00″N 118°13′26″W / 49.000081°N 118.223947°W |
| Details | |
| Opened | 1897 |
| Hours | Open 8:00AM - Midnight |
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U.S. Inspection Station – Laurier, Washington
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| MPS | U.S. Border Inspection Stations MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 14000612 |
| Added to NRHP | September 10, 2014 |
The Laurier-Cascade Border Crossing is a special place where America and Canada meet. It connects Kettle Falls, Washington in the US with Christina Lake, British Columbia in Canada. This crossing is where US Route 395 (in the US) and British Columbia Highway 395 (in Canada) cross the border.
Many things cross the border here! The Kettle River, the Canadian Pacific Railway train tracks, and even the runway of the Avey Field State Airport all go across the Canada-US border at this spot. Border officers from both countries check trains, cars, and even airplanes that pass through.
Contents
History of the Border Crossing
This section explores how the Laurier-Cascade border crossing came to be.
Early Days and Mining Boom
Canada first opened a border station here in 1897. This was when many people were coming to the area to search for valuable minerals, like gold. This period was known as a "prospecting boom." In 1899, the Columbia and Western Railway built train tracks across the border, making it easier to transport goods.
However, the mining boom did not last very long. A series of big fires also caused problems. One fire in 1899 destroyed six hotels in a nearby boomtown called Cascade City. Many people left the area after these events.
Changes Over Time
A large sawmill, which cuts trees into lumber, operated in Cascade, just north of the border, until the 1930s. While the Laurier post office is still open today, the town of Laurier itself has mostly disappeared. The Cascade post office closed in 1973, and the area where the center of Cascade town once stood is now a golf course.
The United States built its own border inspection station at Laurier in 1933. This building is still used today. It was added to the US National Register of Historic Places in 2014 because of its historical importance. Canada replaced its older border station, which was built in the 1950s, with a new one in 2007.
Images for kids
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The Laurier, Washington border station in 1936.
