One of my prized possessions is an original 1876 Map of Westminster that depicts the Lower Mainland a decade before Vancouver even became a city. Unfortunately for me it’s on loan from my father but I enjoy inspecting it every now and then to follow the lines of rivers and creeks that have disappeared, boundaries […]

The Vancouver Heritage Foundation presents Gritty City: Vancouver in the 60s at the historic Hollywood Theatre later this month. This is a mini three-night film festival that will feature Vancouver’s earlier days of neon, West Coast architecture, and the evolution of the West End. The films will include: 1958 – Granville neon. VPL Number: 65548 […]

Vancouver History Tidbits: Knight Street Bridge

Tomorrow is the 101st anniversary of the first professional hockey game ever played in Vancouver. It took place on January 5th, 1912 at Denman Arena, which stood near the corner of Georgia and Denman in downtown Vancouver. The Vancouver Millionaires defeated the New Westminster Royal 8 to 3. 1913 – Denman Arena at 1805 Georgia […]

False Creek today flows in and out of English Bay, ending with the waterfront walkway at Science World. In the early days, through grasslands and a network of creeks and streams, False Creek soaked all the way back to where Clark Drive runs now. False Creek Flats 1898 – Vancouver City and Park Tourist Map. […]

If you’ve ever exited the Olympic Village Canada Line Station and looked south or looped off the Cambie Bridge and onto West 6th/West 2nd then you’ve probably spotted the Centennial Rocket. Modelled after a rocket made for a 1936 PNE float, it was installed in 1986 and contains a time capsule to be opened 50 […]

After publishing almost 100 posts with collections of photos from the Vancouver Archives and Vancouver Public Library, I have taken note of some important and prolific photographers from Vancouver’s earlier days. One name that comes up often is Artray Studio“>Artray Studios or Artray Limited. Today’s collection of photos from the Vancouver Library Archives features the […]

Vancouver has always been a hot tourism destination. From being marketed as the “City of Destiny” to visitors sending postcards around the globe to say: “wish you were here”. I searched the Vancouver Archives and Vancouver Public Library Archives this week to find some old postcards that tourists and locals alike could purchase and send […]

Vancouver’s known for its H-shaped telephone pole alleyways which have been featured in film and television series for decades. Some have names given to them by historians or businesses but others, like Ackery Alley between Granville and Seymour, were named in tribute. Ivan Ackery with framed caricature and letters at desk. VPL Accession Number: 59306 […]

This afternoon Krista Rand sent me a message on Twitter with a photo of the Orpheum sign coming down. Many panicked at the news that the iconic neon beacon on Granville was being removed however it has been determined that it’s all part of a master plan. Photo credit: Krista Rand on Twitter Since the […]