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This 1913 building has undergone a few name changes over the years. It was originally called the Hotel Seward, then the Howard Hotel, and the Empire Hotel. Today it is a privately-owned SRO hotel called the Brandiz.  Back in the day this was a bustling corner of the city, with neighbours like the Pantages Theatre and the White Lunch Cafe.  It's original price tag was $60,000 and today is assessed at just over $10 million. (1935 Major Matthews image from the City of Vancouver City Archives).

This iconic Vancouver landmark was built by CP Rail and opened in 1914. It was the third station built by the railway at this location. It served as the western terminus of CP's passenger train business until 1979. Today it is a busy transportation hub, connecting passengers using the SeaBus, SkyTrain and West Coast Express. 

The current site of the Burnaby Art Gallery was originally built in 1911 by Henry Ceperley, a real estate and insurance tycoon.  At the time, it was Burnaby's largest private home.  It changed hands numerous times over the years until it was bought by the City in the 1960s. 

This beautiful 1929 Norman Revival style house was designed by and built for architect R.M. Matheson of Townley and Matheson, prolific designers of Vancouver homes between the two World Wars. They also designed Vancouver's City Hall. Later on, the home was renovated by another famed architect, C.B.K. Van Norman. (1931 Dominion Photo image from the City of Vancouver Archives).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).

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).