Tracebook is a social media network connecting heritage sites, visitor centres, museums, arts and culture groups and other partners to a global online community. Bringing history to life while promoting present-day events, Tracebook has two main components: a Core and the Connected Web.

The Core is the central hub around which the social media community revolves. Think of it as a main gate to a vast heritage fair taking place all over the province. And like a giant heritage fair, the Tracebook Core is animated by "Virtual Friends" and live programming. The Virtual Friends are historic characters moving along B.C.'s historic Gold Rush/Spirit Trails network during the summer of 2011. Check out their posts, pokes, links and more by clicking here.

The Core is also animated by live programming. This year it features the 1861 Pack Trail Gold Rush Ride. This historic recreation by the R.E. Living History Group celebrates the 150th anniversary of the cutting of the trail between Keithley Creek and Richfield, which would jump-start the Cariboo Gold Rush. The 1861 Pack Trail is the latest addition  to the New Pathways to Gold Society's Chasing the Golden Butterfly geocache program. Starting in August 2011, look for new caches along this historic route. And don't forget to check out our Heritage Trails project.

The Connected Web is where you come in. We're asking people to create a Tracebook page for a character from your site, community or area of interest. Set up a page, post your character's profile and then you can friend the Tracebook Core page and other characters. Send your events along, comment on Core content and connect with other sites and individuals.

Get started: Tracebook Tips -- create your own page
Go Geocaching: Chasing the Golden Butterfly