What's New

Burrard Bridge
added March 19, 2022
Burrard Bridge
This photo was taken in 1932, when the bridge first opened. It shows a marine gas station, and through the spans you can see the False Creek trestle of the Lulu Island line, which took passengers from downtown to Steveston, and as far east as Chilliwack.  (1932 Stuart Thompson photograph from City of Vancouver Archives).


Burrard and Nelson Streets
added March 19, 2022
Burrard and Nelson Streets
This 1923 image shows Burrard Street's cobblestones, as well as markers indicating future trolley car tracks.  First Baptist Church is still there on the left, currently shrouded by scaffolding.  (1923 Stuart Thompson image from City of Vancouver Archives).

Embassy Ballroom
added March 18, 2022
Embassy Ballroom
The 1908 building you can see on the right side of the frame was originally called the Lester Dancing Academy (you can see some pictures of the interior here). In the 1940s it was called the Embassy Ballroom. In the 1960s it was Dantes Inferno, then the Retinal Circus, a rock venue hosting such luminaries as Led Zepplin, Janis Joplin, The Grateful Dead, the Velvet Underground and The Doors. Today it's a thriving nightclub known as Celebrities. (1958 Major Matthews image from the City of Vancouver Archives).

Winchcombe House
added March 06, 2022
Winchcombe House
This 1899 house was already 70 years old when this picture was taken. You can read about its early history here.  In 2004 it was painstakingly renovated using found materials from other old homes.  (1973 Vancouver Planning Dept. image from City of Vancouver Archives).

4th Avenue
added March 02, 2022
4th Avenue
This old postcard from 1905 shows the 2200 block of West 4th Avenue. The buildings are long gone, except perhaps 2296 West 4th at the far end of the block, currently home to Brown's Social House. (1905 image from VSB Archives).

Kaye Road
added March 02, 2022
Kaye Road
At the turn of the 20th century, the Arbutus Ridge area was a swampy marsh known as "Asthma Flats".  This planked road, now known as Trafalgar Street, was the main thoroughfare through the bog. The 1912 image was taken at what is now 18th Avenue, looking south. (1912 Major Matthews image from City of Vancouver Archives).



Central Park Entrance Arch
added February 23, 2022
Central Park Entrance Arch
These 1912 pillars mark the ceremonial entrance to Burnaby's Central Park, where one of the first stations of the BC Electric Railway, connecting Vancouver with New Westminster, was built. The current Skytrain Expo Line follows the original track.  The park itself was originally a naval reserve source of masts and spars, and was named to honour the wife of one of Vancouver's mayors, who was born in New York City. (1930 Major Matthews image From City of Vancouver Archives).
  

Robson and Thurlow
added February 19, 2022
Robson and Thurlow
Across the street from the Manhattan Housing Co-op is Joe Fortes Restaurant. The 1969 image shows the former occupant to be the Traveller Restaurant and Steakhouse (open 24 hours). In 1985 the corner building and its neighbours to the west were renovated extensively. (1969 Vancouver Planning Dept. image source City of Vancouver Archives).

Burr Block
added February 12, 2022
Burr Block
Built in 1892, the Burr Block is one of only two buildings that survived a massive fire in 1898. The building was constructed by William Henry Burr, an early settler to the area (and an ancestor of actor Raymond Burr).  It is now home to the Met Hotel. (Photo courtesy of VPL  Historical Photographs Collections)

Stanley Park's Seven Sisters
added February 12, 2022
Stanley Park's Seven Sisters
There once stood on this spot seven of the worlds tallest trees, known as the 'Seven Sisters'. Their branches spread a cathedral-like canopy over the ground. At one time they were as popular a park attraction as the Hollow Tree.  In the 1950s  they succumbed to disease and were cut down. Pauline Johnson described the grove in poetic detail, and wrote of a First Nations legend that was inspired by these impressive giants. I could be wrong, but it looks like one of them is still standing, judging by the burl on the tree at left. (Original photo courtesy City of Vancouver Archive)

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