Brockton Point facts for kids
_-_1.JPG) |
|
| Brockton Point lighthouse overlooking Coal Harbour | |
| Location | Brockton Point Vancouver Harbor British Columbia Canada |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 49°18′03″N 123°07′01″W / 49.30089°N 123.11704°W |
| Year first constructed | 1890 (first) |
| Year first lit | 1915 (current) |
| Deactivated | 2008 |
| Construction | masonry tower |
| Tower shape | quadrangular tower with balcony and lantern atop an arched basement |
| Markings / pattern | white tower with a red horizontal band, red lantern |
| Height | 10.5 metres (34 ft) |
| Characteristic | decorative light |
| Admiralty number | ex- G5447 |
| CHS number | ex-CCG 0402 |
| NGA number | ex-13004 |
| ARLHS number | CAN-060 |
Brockton Point is a cool spot in Vancouver, Canada. It's a piece of land that sticks out into the water, right on the north side of Coal Harbour. This area is named after Francis Brockton. It's the most eastern part of famous Stanley Park. You can find a really old lighthouse and amazing hand-carved totem poles here.
Long ago, in 1865, people first cleared some land at Brockton Point. They wanted to build a sawmill there. But the water currents were too strong. So, the mill was built somewhere else, in Gastown. Instead, Brockton Point became a big sports area for early Vancouver. The main sports field, Brockton Oval, has hosted famous cricket players. Even today, people play cricket and rugby there.
Contents
A Look Back: Brockton Point's Past
Before 1865, Brockton Point was used as a graveyard for early settlers in Vancouver. In that year, a British businessman named Edward Stamp wanted to build a sawmill here. He cleared part of the land for his plans. However, he soon realized the strong water currents made it impossible to build. It was too hard to manage the log booms. So, he moved his mill to Gastown, which later became Hastings Mill.
The land that Stamp cleared was turned into sports fields by 1891. One of these fields, Brockton Oval, became a very important place for amateur sports. It was mostly used for cricket. Famous cricket players like Donald Bradman and Fred Trueman played at the Oval. After Bradman visited in 1932, he called it the most beautiful cricket ground in the world. Geoffrey Boycott also played there in 1964. He agreed with Bradman's praise for the Oval.
Amazing Totem Poles at Brockton Point
One of the most popular attractions in British Columbia is a group of ten totem poles at Brockton Point. These tall, carved poles are truly special. Four of the totem poles were first brought from Alert Bay in 1924. They were placed at Lumbermen's Arch. Some of these poles were carved way back in the late 1880s.
More totem poles were bought in the 1920s and 1930s. These new ones came from places like Haida Gwaii and Rivers Inlet. In 1962, all the totem poles were moved to Brockton Point. This move was needed to build an overhead road at Lumberman's Arch. Many of the original poles have been replaced with copies. The real, old ones are now kept safe in museums. The newest totem pole was put up in 2009. It was carved by a member of the Squamish Nation. His mother was actually born right in Stanley Park. Near the totem poles, there's a visitor center and gift shop. It's called Legends of the Moon at the Totem Pole Interpretive Centre.
The Historic Brockton Point Lighthouse
Many ships used to crash in the waters around Brockton Point. Because of this, a lighthouse and a signaling station were built there. For a while, Brockton Point had a special person called a lighthouse keeper. One keeper worked there for 25 years, starting in 1855. People say he saved 16 people from drowning!
The lighthouse tower you see today was built in 1914. It has an automatic light that helps guide ships. A British landscape architect named Thomas Hayton Mawson designed it. He also designed the lifeboat house below the point. Plus, he created other famous landmarks in Stanley Park.
Images for kids
-
Brockton Point Lighthouse
See also
In Spanish: Brockton Point para niños
