Discovering the Past in Modern Vancouver

If you find yourself in Vancouver with some free time to kill, a sense of adventure to satisfy, and an interest and appreciation of history to fulfill, then you’re in luck, as Vancouver offers numerous historical sites and landmarks that will without a doubt quench your thirst for history and adventure!

Gastown Steam Clock
[Leonard G./Wikipedia]

Proud Canadian Tradition

To start the sightseeing off, you can pass by Gastown, in downtown Vancouver. Going through Gastown will give you a very good idea of the rich and diverse roots of the rest of the city. Gastown takes its name from Jack “Gassy” Deighton, a sailor turned bar owner who established the city’s first saloon. The town quickly developed and flourished, as numerous businesses and establishments opened, making Gastown a melting pot of diversity, trade, and commerce. By 1886, Gastown had officially become part of Vancouver. Unfortunately, Gastown was not spared from the Great Vancouver Fire, which destroyed most of its buildings and history. However, in a testament to the spirit of Gastown’s citizens, the town was rebuilt and — driven by an interest to preserve the historical and architectural merit of the town — was recognized as one of Canada’s National Historic Sites. Today, Gastown is a popular tourist site that holds numerous antique and culturally significant landmarks, such as the Gastown Steam Clock, which is a proud, locally maintained site that also has become a hub of modern technologies and a lively nightlife.

The Great Outdoors

National Geographic Tree
[Public Domain]

Looking for a more outdoorsy, nature-intensive romp in Van-couver? Well, Stanley Park might just be the perfect place for you. Named after the former Governor General of Canada, Lord Stanley of Preston, and opened in 1888, Stanley Park can provide you with a physically as well as culturally stimulating visit. Stanley Park contains an impressive collection of gigantic, colossal trees such as the National Geographic Tree, an enormous western red cedar that was featured on the cover of National Geographic, and the Hollow Tree, popular because of its hollowed out insides that made it a great tourist stop. There are also various lakes, ponds, and lagoons that offer visitors great scenic views. Scattered throughout Stanley Park are monuments, statues, and landmarks that honour many Canadian heroes, former leaders, poets, and athletes. Totem poles are also a common site in Stanley Park, underscoring its past as home to the many indigenous tribes of Vancouver.

A Taste of Diversity

The great city of Vancouver is also home to a large and thriving Chinatown (in fact, one of the biggest and oldest Chinatowns that can be found in the whole of North America). In close proximity to Gastown, Vancouver’s Chinatown presents you with a unique opportunity to have an authentic and interesting Chinese experience right in the middle of Canada. With a community spanning generations of Chinese-Canadian immigrants, you can be sure that the shops, restaurants, markets, and other establishments there are 100 per cent authentic and traditional. Vancouver’s Chinatown is truly one of the ideal examples of marriage between a foreign culture and the Canadian lifestyle.

Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Garden
Chinatown, Vancouver
[Public Domain]

Explore Vancouver!

Vancouver holds the promise of many more gratifying and stimulating encounters, and these are just a sample of the many historical and cultural sites in Vancouver that you can enjoy. For a more rewarding experience, just go ahead and discover for yourself what the rest of Vancouver has to offer!

About the Author

Jay Banks of Vancouver Homes has been a Realtor from Vancouver BC for more than 16 years.