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| CVA Photo M-11-12 Bird's Eye View of Vancouver in 1912 |
My interest in Vancouver neighbourhood history was born when I moved into my first apartment in the West End. Walking to and from my workplace downtown I would choose a slightly different route each time and I was fascinated by what I saw.
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| CVA 780-410 - House at 1373 Barclay in 1970s |
Back in the 1980s, the West End had many more of its original houses. Sadly, most but not all of the West End’s early buildings have been demolished, but you can still find some unexpected jewels hidden here and there among the high-rises and hidden behind storefronts.
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| Do you recognise these houses in CVA Photo Str N267.1? You can still find them on Denman Street |
This tour, which lasts usually just over two and a half hours, snakes its way through the West End from Robson Street to English Bay. On the way you will see the site of an unusual roof-top airplane crash, the location of the mansions of two of Vancouver’s mayors,
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| CVA Photo SGN 1080.1 - Mayor William Templeton's Residence on Barclay Street |
the house in which the first English version of "O Canada" was written, the Gustav Roedde House and the beautifully restored houses of Barclay Heritage Square, the site of North America’s first Fire Hall designed for mechanical fire trucks,
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| FD P11 - Firemen and the first motorised chemical engine at Firehall No. 6 Nelson at Nicola |
the location of X-Files’ Agent Dana Scully’s apartment, the apartment building where actor Errol Flynn died, Sugar magnate Benjamin Tingley Roger’s magnificent stone mansion Gabriola, the home of one of the British Empire’s most renowned sharpshooters,
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| Bu P111 - Joe Fortes in front of his cottage on English Bay at the foot of Bidwell |
the location of English Bay’s first life guard Joe Fortes’ cabin, and much much more.
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| Pan 103 - View of 1900 and 2000 blocks of Nelson Street - Click photo to enlarge |
As with all of my history walks, I supplement what we are able to see today with peeks back into time using archival images to help recreate the lost Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes of the West End.
Departs: SE corner of Bute and Robson Streets at
Time: 10am
Lasts: Approximately two and a half hours and
Finishes: At English Bay near Denman & Davie.
Cost: $25.00 per person
THIS WEST END HISTORY WALK IS ALSO OFFERED AS A PRIVATE TOUR IN ENGLISH, JAPANESE OR ITALIAN. THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE REQUIRED IS FOUR PEOPLE OR A PAYMENT OF $100 FOR SMALLER GROUPS.
For more information on my History Walks or to book a private tour, please contact me at historywalks@gmail.com.
My History Walks in Vancouver are on TripAdvisor and have been awarded a Certificate of Excellence.
For a sneak preview of my West End History Walk, take a look at this great video called "TIME TRAVELER" by Janelle Huopalainen.
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