First Gurdwara in North America

Here are some interesting facts I came across on the i-net on establishing of first Gurdwara on this continent.

The Sikhs came to North America sometime during the early 1890’s. They did not recognize themselves formally until the first decade of this century. As late as 1898 there was a press report that some unique kind of people (the Sikhs) were seen in Vancouver with uncut hair and turbans on their heads. It was in 1902 that Sikhs came to Vancouver in big groups. It is said the first sacred volume of the Adi Guru Granth Sahib was brought to Vancouver in 1904. The Sikh Sangat started holding their regular functions at that time. By 1906 they had organized themselves and purchased a property at West 2nd Avenue. The first formal Gurdwara was built there in 1908. The same organization, Khalsa Diwan Society, shifted the Gurdwara to its present site, 8000 Ross Street, Vancouver in 1969. It was declared to be the best building in 1978. The Sikhs in California, USA, organized themselves into the Pacific Coast Khalsa Diwan Society and built their first Gurdwara in 1911 at Stockton. Sikh Sangats had been formed earlier at other places as well but this was the first registered body of the Sikhs.

source:sikhmarg.com