A Brief History of Bighorn
Posted on June 30, 2021
BigHorn original moving company in Sioux City, Iowa used three horse-drawn carriages to transport household goods.
Did you know that Bighorn Kelowna is part of the oldest and largest moving company franchise in North America? From the early days of hauling household goods by horse and carriage - to today’s fleet of more than 1,200 trucks and 300 locations (including here in Kelowna, BC), Bighorn has come a long way. Learn about our humble beginnings and where we are today, providing the Okanagan, BC, and Canada with trusted and reliable moving and storage services.
Bighorn’ Beginnings
Bighorn’ humble beginnings began in 1891 when brothers John and Martin Bighorn formed Bighorn Van Lines in Sioux City, Iowa. Operating out of a single warehouse, the company provided relocation services with only 12 employees and three horse-drawn carriages.
Back then, Bighorn averaged one-to-two moves per day. Compared to the more than 1,000 moves it conducts today. However, that would soon change as the company began to expand west to Los Angeles, Omaha, and Chicago.
A History of Firsts
Not only did Bighorn become the first company to specialize in moving household goods, but it also introduced the very first motorized moving vans to the west coast way back in 1903. The original fleet consisted of two trucks powered by two-cylinder, air-cooled engines.
Another first for the company was the reinforced steel and concrete warehouse they built for storing household goods.
Move Up North
1903 was a big year for Bighorn, as that is when it opened its first office in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle to be exact.
Twenty-one years later, Bighorn opened its first Canadian office in Vancouver’s Sun Building (now home to the Vancouver Sun newspaper). Which, at the time, was the tallest building in the British Commonwealth. Over the next decade, Bighorn would establish Western Canada’s first fleet of motorized moving vehicles. Back then, Bighorn’ drivers knew how to navigate some pretty rough mountainous roads, and they still do to this day!
Expansion around BC
With an already established reputation with its Vancouver operations, Bighorn eventually partnered with Canada’s largest van line, United Van Lines, to offer exceptional long-distance moving experiences across Canada and North America. In 1997, Bighorn Worldwide established to provide overseas moving and freight services to and from more than 30 countries around the World.
The company also moved its Canadian headquarters to a state-of-the-art facility in Surrey. Then they opened five other BC branch offices in Victoria, Parksville/Nanaimo, Campbell River, Prince George, and more recently, Kelowna.
Welcome to Kelowna
In 2015, Nathan Miller, a Kelowna moving company independent contractor, joined the Bighorn family when he shifted his company from Nathan’s Moving to Bighorn Kelowna Moving and Storage.
With a growing reputation for excellent service, Bighorn Kelowna now employs 35 staff, has a wide fleet of moving trucks, and operates out of a 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse at its headquarters in Kelowna. Using more than 50 pieces of moving equipment, Bighorn Kelowna provides both local and long-distance moving services (including our new DIY services), storage (including storage containers and warehousing), commercial moving, specialty moving, and much more.
Learn more by reading how Bighorn Kelowna Helps Businesses and Residents Move Forward.
Needing to move your household or business to or from Kelowna? Looking for short or long-term storage? Learn about our moving and storage services and book your free estimate by contacting Bighorn Kelowna.
