Archive Photos of the Day: West End From Stanley Park

Stanley Park is one of my favourite places to profile since it is a living reminder of the history of the area combined with the ever-changing landscape of the City of Vancouver. While I have featured photos of its entrance arches, bridges and eventually the causeway that bisected Coal Harbour (creating Lost Lagoon), I have finally come across a few photos that provide a different perspective.

The following photo was called “West End Vancouver in Autumn 1889” by Major J.S. Matthews:

1889: Archives #St Pk P115

The photograph shows the Coal Harbour Bridge and the entrance to Stanley Park, taken from the park and facing the West End. Major Matthews’ notes with this print say that this was taken from a point about a few feet south of Queen Victoria’s monument in Stanley Park.” The photo looks south west across the Coal Harbour Bridge, showing Park Road. Stanley Park Brewery (a house originally built by George Grant Mackay) is at the foot of Alberni Street. The big tree beside the arch was well-known tree at foot Georgia Street.

Here’s one more from barely a decade later that shows the Coal Harbour Bridge leading to the West End from Stanley Park:

1898: Archives #St Pk P225

Nowadays, the shores of Coal Harbour lap against the Sea Wall on one side and Lost Lagoon borders trails on the other, with the Stanley Park Causeway traffic in between.

From Google Maps

For more Stanley Park history, check out this series of events and walking tours hosted by Jolene Cumming.