History

Charlie Hayes / PNG. 1995 West Coast Express The West Coast Express made its inaugural run in 1995 and has since provided residents of the Greater Vancouver corridor a welcome alternative to car travel.

Dominion Photo Co. photo, Vancouver Public Library VPL 25925. 1939 Boeing Plant Having opened soon after war was declared in September 1939, the Boeing plant on Sea Island was in full swing by the time this 1942 photo was taken.

City of Vancouver Archives, Pan N95. W.J. Moore photo.

City of Vancouver Archives, St Pk P121. Leonard Frank photo. 1894 Nine O’clock Gun Nine o’clock gun. A cannon was installed in Stanley Park in this shed near Brockton Point in 1894.

Philip Timms photo, Vancouver Public Library VPL 5145. 1893 Vancouver Club The original Vancouver Club was an exclusive social retreat for the city’s elite, located in this building on West Hastings close to the homes of many of its members.

?City of Vancouver Archives, Bu P216. 1891 BC Sugar Refinery The original BC Sugar refinery (pictured) produced its first sugar in 1891.

Bailey Bros. photo. Vancouver Public Library VPL 19788. 1889 Vancouver Fire Department Fire Wagon. In September 1889 the Vancouver Fire Department got horses for its fire engine so the fire fighters could finally stop pulling it themselves.

City of Vancouver Archives, Photo Harry T. Devine. 1888 Capilano Dam The desire for a fresh and steady supply of water for Vancouver led to the building of the Capilano Dam in North Vancouver in 1888. The water was then piped under Burrard Inlet.

Stanley Triggs photo, Vancouver Public Library VPL 85782D. 1954 Challenger Map Under the mop is the world’s largest map of its kind. The Challenger Map took George Challenger and his family seven years to build out of hand-cut pieces of plywood.

Vancouver Public Library, Special Collections, VPL 41338. Province newspaper photo. 1964 Port Mann Bridge The Port Mann Bridge is seen under construction.