The McLean Mill National Historic Site is a former sawmill and logging operation located in the Alberni Valley of Vancouver Island, British Columbia’s west coast. McLean Mill was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1989 to commemorate its collection of extant resources related to logging, sawmilling, transportation and labour, and, its close association to significant aspects of the forest industry.
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McLean Mill National Historic Site - Anita Sutherland
The McLean Mill National Historic Site is located on 12.8 hectares and contains 35 buildings and structures. They form a self-contained community of residences, offices and service buildings centred around the steam-driven sawmill and mill pond. The R.B. McLean Lumber Company was a family-run business that operated from 1926 to 1965. Although small in scale, its logging, milling and marketing operations were similar to larger mills in the province. Much of its original machinery and buildings have survived, making it a rare example of a sawmill complex from the first half of the 20th century. For these reasons the McLean Mill was designated as a national historic site in 1989.
We invite you to explore the site and discover for yourself the fascinating relics of a bygone age – visit just a part or tour the whole site. The map provides information about the five main themes of the site: Forest, Camp Life, Logging, Sawmilling, and Markets and Transportation.