List of heritage buildings in Vancouver facts for kids

The City of Vancouver has many amazing old buildings and structures that are super important to its history. These special buildings are called heritage buildings, and they're legally protected by the city. This means they can't be torn down or changed too much, so future generations can enjoy them too!

This list shows some of these cool heritage buildings in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It focuses on buildings that are officially "designated" as heritage sites.

It's good to know that this list doesn't include:

• Buildings in areas like Gastown or Chinatown. These whole neighbourhoods are protected by the province of British Columbia because they're so historically important.
• Buildings that became heritage sites after January 31, 2003.
• Other heritage structures protected by the Canadian or provincial governments.

Places for People to Gather (Assembly)

These are places where many people come together for fun, worship, or to eat and drink. Think of churches, restaurants, theatres, and sports stadiums.

Name Heritage Class	Location Neighbourhood	Description	Year	Builder or Architect	Photo
Brock House (Thorley Park)	3875 Point Grey Road	This Tudor Revival style house was once a private home. It was also used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Today, it's a busy centre for seniors and a restaurant that hosts over 200 weddings each year!	1911	Samuel Maclure, architect	Brock House
Bay Theatre (Starlight Theatre)	907-935 Denman Street	This theatre was built in the Art Moderne style and had a tall sign tower. The owners worked with the city to save this heritage building.	1939	Dominion Construction Ltd., original builder Paul Kwasnicky, architect?	Bay Theatre
Pantages Theatre	144-156 East Hastings Street	Sadly, this theatre was torn down in 2011.	1907–1908	Edward Evans Blackmore, architect & designer B. Marcus Priteca	Pantages Theatre around 1912
Holy Rosary Cathedral	646 Richards Street	This beautiful French Gothic style church is the main Catholic church in Vancouver. A famous event held here was the funeral for Joe Fortes, a beloved English Bay lifeguard.	1899–1900	Julien & Williams, architects	Holy Rosary Cathedral
Provincial Courthouse	800 West Georgia Street	This grand Neo-classical building was designed by Francis Rattenbury. He also designed the famous Empress Hotel and Parliament Building in Victoria! Today, it's home to the Vancouver Art Gallery.	1906–1913	Francis Rattenbury, architect	Vancouver Art Gallery
Gabriola (Angus Apartments)	1531 Davie Street	Gabriola is a grand Queen Anne mansion built for the founder of B.C. Sugar Refining Co. It later became apartments and then a restaurant, but is now empty.	1901	Samuel Maclure, architect	Gabriola (Angus Apartments)
Hycroft Manor	1489 McRae Avenue	This house belonged to General Alexander Duncan McRae, who hosted many fancy parties here. He later gave it to the government to be a hospital for veterans. Now, it's used by the University Women's Club and is a very popular spot for filming movies and TV shows!	1909	Thomas Hooper, architect	Hycroft Manor
Heritage Hall Class: A(M)	3102 Main Street Mount Pleasant	This building was first a post office, then used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In the 1980s, it was restored to become a community arts centre.	1914	Archibald Campbell Hope, architect	Heritage Hall
Hastings Mill Store	1575 Alma Road	This is the oldest building in Vancouver! It was moved by a barge from its first spot to its current location. Now, it's a museum run by the Native Daughters of British Columbia.	1865	Erected by Captain Edward Stamp & Associates	Hastings Mill Store
Orpheum Theatre	884 Granville Street	This theatre used to host vaudeville shows. It was fully restored in the 1970s and is now a major place for live music, and home to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.	1927	B. Marcus Priteca, architect	Orpheum Theatre
Aberthau House (Rear House)	4397 West 2nd Avenue	This Tudor Revival house was built for James S. Rear. Later, Colonel Victor Spencer bought it and named it Aberthau, which means "place filled with light" in Welsh. Today, it's a cultural and recreation centre run by the Vancouver Park Board.	1909	Samuel Maclure, architect	Aberthau House
St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church	1012 Nelson Street	This Gothic Revival style church was built after the Methodist and Presbyterian churches joined to form the United Church of Canada.	1931–1933	George Twizell & Robert Twizell, architects	St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church
Tulk House Rosemary (Order of the Convent of Our Lady of the Cenacle)	3689 Selkirk Street	This Tudor Revival manor was built for Edward Tulk, a lawyer, who named it after his daughter, Rosemary. It was also home to a Lieutenant Governor of B.C. From 1947 to 1996, it was a retreat owned by the Order of the Convent of Our Lady of the Cenacle.	1915	Samuel Maclure & Cecil Fox, architects	Tulk House
St. James Anglican Church	303 East Cordova Street	This church has a unique art deco style mixed with Byzantine design.	1935–1937	Adrian Gilbert Scott, architect	St. James Anglican Church
Christ Church Cathedral	690 Burrard Street	This church is built in the English Romanesque style.	1889–1895	Charles Osborn Wickenden, architect	Christ Church Cathedral
Beatty Street Drill Hall	620 Beatty Street	This building is home to The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught's Own), the oldest military unit in Vancouver.	1899–1901	David Ewart, architect	Beatty Street Drill Hall
Seaforth Armoury	Burrard Street @ 1st Avenue	This is the home of The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, another important military group.	1935–1936	McCarter and Nairne, architects	Seaforth Armoury
The Vancouver Club	915 West Hastings		1912–1914	Sharp & Thompson, architects	The Vancouver Club
Alexandra Park Haywood Bandstand	1755 Beach Avenue	This bandstand is located in a park in Vancouver's West End, with a great view of English Bay.	1915		Alexandra Park Haywood Bandstand
First Baptist Church	969 Burrard Street	The church had a big fire in 1931 but was beautifully restored by Charles Bentall, who owned Dominion Construction.	1911	Burke, Horwood, & White, architects	First Baptist Church
St. Paul’s Anglican Church of the West End, Vancouver	1130 Jervis Street	This Gothic Revival church is located in Vancouver's West End.	1905	William Henry Archer, architect	St. Paul's Anglican Church
Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral	154 East 10th Avenue	The Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Parish started in Vancouver in 1937. The church was finished in 1950. In 1977, the city made it a heritage building.	1950	Sergius Timoshenko, architect	Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral
Stanley Park Pavilion	Stanley Park		1911		Stanley Park Pavilion
Fire Hall No. 1	270-280 East Cordova Street	This might be the first fire hall in North America designed for motorized fire trucks! In the 1970s, it became the Fire Hall Arts Centre.	1906–1907	William T. Whiteway, architect	Fire Hall Arts Centre
Coroner's Court	238-240 East Cordova Street	This building was first used by the city coroner, then the city analyst. In 1986, it became a museum for the Vancouver Police Department.	1932	Arthur J. Bird, architect	Coroner's Court
Chalmers Church	2801 Hemlock		1912	Samuel Buttrey Birds, architect	Chalmers Church
St. Mary's (Kerrisdale) Church & Hall	2498 West 37th Ave	Both the church and its hall are protected heritage buildings.	1913 1923	Sharp & Thompson, architects	St. Mary's (Kerrisdale) Church
Vancouver Public Library	750 Burrard	This was the second main building for the Vancouver Public Library. It's now home to a lingerie store and TV/radio studios.	1957	Harold Semmens and Doug Simpson, architects	Vancouver Public Library (former)
Japanese Hall & School	475 Alexander Street	This building was a very important centre for the Japanese community in Vancouver. During World War II, the government took it over, but it has since been returned and restored as a cultural centre and language school.	1928	Sharp & Thompson, architects	Japanese Hall & School
Stanley Theatre	2750 Granville Street	This theatre has a unique Moorish style interior and art deco design. It's the last old neighbourhood theatre left in Vancouver and is now a live theatre stage.	1930	Henry Holdsby Simmonds, architect	Stanley Theatre
Vancouver Rowing Club Clubhouse	Stanley Park	This clubhouse was originally on the other side of Coal Harbour. It was floated across the water to its current spot and rebuilt! It has a mock Tudor style.	1911		Vancouver Rowing Club Clubhouse
Unitarian Church of Vancouver	949 W 49th Avenue	This modernist church was built in 1964 and became a recognized historic place in 2008.	1964	Wolfgang Gerson, Architect
Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church	2525 Quebec Street	This Romanesque Revival church was used as a church until 1989. It then became a performing arts theatre before being turned into homes in 1994.	1909	Parr and Fee, architects	Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church
St. Francis of Assisi Church	2025 & 2035 Napier Street				St. Francis of Assisi Church
First Church of Christ, Scientist Coastal Church	1160 West Georgia Street	This building is special because it was built during World War I. It's a great example of the Colonial Revival style, which is rare in Vancouver.	1918	Matheson and De Guerre

Places for Business (Mercantile & Business)

These are places where services are provided, or where goods are sold. This includes banks, offices, government buildings, and stores.

Name Heritage Class	Location Neighbourhood	Description	Year	Builder or Architect	Photo
Douglas Lodge (Bank of Commerce)	2799 Granville Street	This Georgian Revival building is a well-known commercial and residential building. It was once home to Justin Trudeau, who later became the Prime Minister of Canada.	1912	W.M. Dodd, architect	Douglas Lodge
London Building	626 West Pender Street	This Edwardian Commercial building was built in 1912 for a British company. Back then, Britain invested a lot in Vancouver's buildings.	1912	Architects: Somervell & Putnam	London Building
Firehall #6	1000 Nicola Street		1907	Honeyman and Curtis, architects	Firehall #6
Royal Bank Tower (Vancouver)	675 West Hastings Street		1929-1931	Sumner Godfrey Davenport, architect	Royal Bank Tower
Tellier Tower (Holden Building)	10-16 East Hastings Street		1910–1911	William Tuff Whiteway, architect	Tellier Tower
Dick Building	1490 West Broadway	This building is named after William Dick, a Vancouver businessman and politician.	1929	Townley & Matheson, architects	Dick Building
Sun Tower	100 West Pender Street	When it was built, this was the tallest building in the British Empire! It was originally called the Vancouver World building. The Vancouver Sun newspaper later moved in, giving it its current name.	1912	L. D. Taylor; William T. Whiteway, architect	Sun Tower
Federal Building	715 West Hastings Street	This building is part of the Sinclair Centre complex.	1937		Federal Building
Marine Building	355 Burrard Street	This Art Deco skyscraper was the tallest in the British Empire when it opened in 1930. It cost a lot to build but was sold for much less during the Great Depression. It's famous for its beautiful marine-themed entrance and is a popular spot for filming.	1929–1930	J. W. Hobbs; McCarter and Nairne, architects	Marine Building
National Harbours Board Building	50 North Dunlevy Street		1905		National Harbours Board Building
BC Permanent Loan Building	330 West Pender Street		1907	Hooper and Watkins, architects	BC Permanent Loan Building
Canada Permanent Building (Century House)	432 Richards Street		1911	John Smith Davidson Taylor, architect	Canada Permanent Building
Vancouver Block	736 Granville Street	This building was completed in 1912 for Dominic Burns, whose brother was a famous businessman. It cost $400,000 to build!	1912	Parr and Fee, architects	Vancouver Block
Winch Building	739 West Hastings Street	This building is also part of the Sinclair Centre complex.	1909	Thomas Hooper, architect	Winch Building
Vancouver City Hall	453 West 12th Avenue	After many years of debate, the new city hall was finally finished in 1936, which was Vancouver's 50th anniversary!	1936	Townley & Matheson, architects	Vancouver City Hall
Canadian Northern Railway Station (Pacific Central Station)	1150 Station Street	This Neoclassical Revival building was built on land that used to be part of False Creek. It's still a train station today, and also a bus station since 1993. The cool neon sign is also protected!	1917–1919	Pratt & Ross, architects	Pacific Central Station
Waterfront Station Class: A(M)	601 Cordova Street	Waterfront Station is a huge transportation hub in Downtown Vancouver. You can catch trains, buses, and ferries from here.	1914	Barott, Blackader, and Webster	Waterfront Station
Bank of Montreal - Main & Prior Branch Class: B(M)(H)(I)	906 Main Street Strathcona	This Classical Revival style bank is one of three designed by Honeyman & Curtis. In 2005, it was made part of a new apartment building.	1929	Honeyman & Curtis, architects	Bank of Montreal - Main & Prior Branch
Commercial & 1st Class: A	1704 East 1st Avenue Grandview-Woodland	This building is both commercial and residential. It's considered the heart of what locals call The Drive (referring to Commercial Drive).			Commercial & 1st
Woodward's Building	101 West Hastings Street	The original part of the Woodward's Department Store from 1903-08 was saved and restored. It's now part of a mixed-use development and houses SFU's School for the Contemporary Arts.	1908	William T. Whiteway, architect	Woodward's Building
Hudson's Bay Department Store	674 Granville Street	The Hudson's Bay Company (which started in 1670!) built this large department store. Similar buildings can be found in Victoria, Calgary, and Winnipeg.	1913 1926 1950	Burke, Horwood & White, architects	Hudson's Bay Department Store
Vancouver Motors (Dominion Motors)	901 Seymour Street		1925	Townley and Matheson, architects	Vancouver Motors
Canadian Linen Supply	1228-1232 Richards Street		1932	Townley and Matheson, architects	Canadian Linen Supply Building
Foley Building	698 West 16th Avenue	This Edwardian style building was the first commercial building in the new Municipality of Point Grey. The owner, James B. Foley, ran his real estate business here and rented out a corner to a grocery store.	1909	Unknown	Foley Building
Bank of Montreal Class: C	2490 Main Street Mount Pleasant				Bank of Montreal
Royal Bank Class: B	2345-2349 Main Street Mount Pleasant				Royal Bank

Schools and Learning Places (Educational)

These are buildings used for schools and daycare centres up to grade 12.

Name Heritage Class	Location Neighbourhood	Description	Year	Builder or Architect	Photo
Lord Strathcona Elementary School Class: A(M) & B(M)	592 East Pender Street Strathcona	This school is one of the oldest in Vancouver! It has four buildings, and the main one from 1921 was built using bricks from the original school on this site.	1897 1913 1915 1921 1930.	William Blackmore, architect	Lord Strathcona Elementary School
Convent of the Sacred Heart (St. Georges School) Class: A(M)(L)	3851 West 29th Avenue Dunbar-Southlands	This high school was started by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart in 1912. It was an all-girls Catholic school until 1979, when it became an all-boys school (St. George's School). The building's Gothic Revival style has been carefully kept.	1912	Charles G. Badgley, architect	Convent of the Sacred Heart
Normal School Class: A(M)	501 West 12th Avenue Fairview	This Gothic Revival building was a school for training teachers. Now, it's part of the City Square Shopping Centre, with offices and stores inside a mall.	1909	Pearce & Hope, architects	Normal School
Model School Class: A(M)	555 West 12th Avenue Fairview	Like the Normal School, this Romanesque Revival building is now part of the City Square Shopping Centre. It was originally an elementary school for teacher training.	1905	Edward Evans Blackmore, architect	Model School
472 Schoolhouse Class: B(M)	906 West 19th Avenue Fairview	This Pioneer Cottege style school was the second school to open in the Point Grey area. It was saved by the local neighbourhood and moved to its current spot behind a house.	1901 1908	unknown	472 Schoolhouse

Places for Living (Residential)

These are places where people live, like houses, apartment buildings, and hotels.

Name Heritage Class	Location Neighbourhood	Description	Year	Builder or Architect	Photo
Hodson Manor	1254 West 7th Avenue		1894 and 1903
Banff Apartments	1201 W. Georgia Street	Originally a fancy residential hotel, this building is now rental apartments. It's the last example of the grand hotels that used to line West Georgia Street. It was restored after a serious fire in 2002.	1909	Henry Barton Watson, architect	Banff Apartments
Hotel Vancouver	900 West Georgia Street	This famous heritage hotel is the third "Hotel Vancouver." It took 11 years to build! The first two hotels were on the corner of Granville & Georgia.	1929–1939	John S. Archibald & John Schofield, architects	Hotel Vancouver
Sylvia Hotel	1154 Gilford Street	This historic hotel on English Bay was originally an apartment building. During World War II, it was used to house merchant marine crews. It was the tallest building in the West End until the late 1950s.	1911–1912	W.P. White, architect	Sylvia Hotel
The Roedde House	1415 Barclay Street	This Queen Anne style house is now cared for by the Roedde House Preservation Society.	1893	Gustav Roedde; Francis Rattenbury, architect	The Roedde House
Hirshfield House	1963 Comox Street	This is a private home in the West End, built in the Arts and Crafts style, including its garden.	1910	Gamble and Knapp, architects	Hirshfield House
Tudor Manor	1311 Beach Avenue		1927–1928	Townley and Matheson, architects	Tudor Manor
Residential	883 Broughton Street	Private home in the West End.	1903		883-891 Broughton Street
Residential	889 Broughton Street	Private home in the West End.	1903		883-891 Broughton Street
Residential	891 Broughton Street	Private home in the West End.	1903		883-891 Broughton Street
Barclay Manor	1447 (1477?) Barclay Street	This Queen Anne style home has been many things: a hospital, a home for working girls, a boarding house, and now it's a seniors' centre. It's part of Barclay Heritage Square in the West End.	1890 1909	R.J. McDonald, architect (1909)	Barclay Manor
Weeks House	1459 Barclay Street	This house is a typical example of West End architecture and is now part of the Barclay Heritage Square.	1895	built for George W. Weeks	Weeks House
Residential Class: A	2953 - 2955 Ontario Street	Private home.	1907		2953-2955 Ontario Street
Residential	989 Bute	Now called Ashby House B&B, located in the West End.	1899		989 Bute Street
Residential	1235 Nelson Street	Private home in the West End.	1931	Ross A. Lort, architect	1235 Nelson Street
Kensington Place	1386 Nicola Street	Private home in the West End.	1912	Phillip Julien, architect	Kensington Place
Fee House	1119 Broughton		1904	Parr and Fee, architects	Fee House
Randall Building	535-565 West Georgia	This building was originally an office for a brokerage firm called S.W. Randall Company.	1929	Richard T. Perry, architect	Randall Building
Vernon Block	225-255 East Broadway Street		1930	Townley and Matheson, architect	Vernon Block
Hotel St. Clair	577-579 Richards Street	This hotel was previously known as "Dunsmuir Rooms."	1911	Samuel Buttrey Birds, architect	Hotel St. Clair
Residential	1050 Nicola	Private home in the West End.	1909		1050 Nicola Street
Grauer House	364 West 10th Avenue		1919
Residential	1554 East 10th Avenue	Private home in East Vancouver.	1912		1554 East 10th Avenue
Queen Charlotte	1101 Nicola Street	Private home in the West End.	1928		Queen Charlotte
Hotel Georgia	801 West Georgia	This famous hotel in downtown Vancouver has hosted many celebrities, including Queen Elizabeth II, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles! It was restored in 1998.	1927	Garrow and Graham Sr., architects	Hotel Georgia
Residential	2104 East 19th Avenue	Private home in East Vancouver, located across from Trout Lake in John Hendry Park.			2104 East 19th Avenue
Residential	2919 East 29th Avenue	Private home in East Vancouver, near the 29th Avenue Skytrain Station.			2919 East 29th Avenue
Douglas Lodge	2799 Granville Street		1907	William M. Dodd, architect	Douglas Lodge
BC Electric Building (BC Hydro Building)	970 Burrard	Locals often call this the BC Hydro Building. It was the main office for the B.C. electricity and gas company until 1995, when it was turned into private apartments.	1955–1957	Thompson, Berwick, Pratt, and Partners, architects	Electra Building
Gardner House	3152 West 49th Avenue	This house was built in a unique way: a concrete slab was poured, then lifted up. Another slab was poured, brick walls were built, and the first slab was lowered onto the bricks. Then the second slab was lifted, and a third slab was poured for the foundation!	1958	Kenneth Gardner, architect	Gardner House
Washington Hotel (Hotel Maple) (Hastings Hotel)	177-179 East Hastings Street		1912	Parr and Fee, architects	Washington Hotel
Residential	6120 McDonald Street	This Georgian Revival style private home was originally built for G.L. Smellie.	1921	William T. Whiteway, architect	6120 McDonald Street
Residential	6120 McDonald Street	This Tudor Revival style private home was originally built for Dr. Brett Anderson.	1930	Hodgson & Simmons, architects	Anderson House
J.J. Miller's Kurrajong	1098 Salsbury Drive	This Queen Anne style house was built for J.J. Miller, an Australian who developed homes in the Grandview area of East Vancouver.	1908		J.J. Miller's Kurrajong
Victoria Court Class: B	1942 East 1st Avenue Grandview-Woodland	Residential apartments.			Victoria Court
Mellish House Class: B(M)	2325 East 1st Avenue Grandview-Woodland	The architect, Frederick Mellish, built this Bungalow style home for his own family.	1919	Frederick Mellish, architect & builder	Mellish House
Residential Class: A	2033-2035 East 2nd Avenue Grandview-Woodland	This house was built before rules were made about how close a house could be to the front of the property line.			2033-2035 East 2nd Avenue
Wenonah Apartments Class: B	2703-2707 Main Street Mount Pleasant	This building used to be called Leonard Apartments.	1912	William P. White, architect	Wenonah Apartments
Belvedere Court Class: B	2539-2549 Main Street<Mount Pleasant		1912	Arthur Julius Bird, architect	Belvedere Court
Ashnola Apartments Class: B	2152 Main Street Mount Pleasant		1913	Braunton and Liebert, architects	Ashnola Apartments
Caroline Court Class: B	1058 Nelson Street	These residential apartments were built for James M Pattullo in 1911.	1911	J P Matheson, architect	Caroline Court Apartments
Residential Class: C	3171 West 5th Avenue	Private home.	1920	Fred Melton, architect and builder	3171 West 5th Avenue

Images for kids

• 

  Hycroft Manor

• 

  Heritage Hall

• 

  St. Andrew's-Wesley United Church

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  Tulk House - Rosemary

• 

  Dick Building

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  Bank of Montreal - Main & Prior Branch

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  Lord Strathcona Elementary School

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  Normal School (inside mall)

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  Model School (inside mall)

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  St. Francis of Assisi Church

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  St. Francis of Assisi Rectory

• 

  First Baptist Church

See also

• List of old Canadian buildings
• List of tallest buildings in Vancouver
• List of National Historic Sites of Canada in British Columbia
• Architecture of Vancouver