List of historic places in Vancouver facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Vancouver, British Columbia, is a city with a rich history, and many of its old buildings and special places are protected as historic places. These places are like time capsules that tell us stories about how Vancouver grew and changed over the years. They help us understand the past and appreciate the unique character of the city today.

This list shares some of the cool historic spots in Vancouver that are officially recognized on the Canadian Register of Historic Places. These buildings and sites are important because they show us different styles of architecture, how people lived and worked, and key moments in Vancouver's history.

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Exploring Vancouver's Historic Buildings

Vancouver has many old buildings that have been around for a long time. They show us how buildings were designed in the past and what they were used for.

Historic Buildings in Downtown Vancouver

Many of Vancouver's oldest and most interesting buildings are found in the downtown area, especially in places like Gastown and Chinatown.

The Dominion Building: A Skyscraper from the Past

The Dominion Building at 207 West Hastings Street is a very important historic building. When it was finished in 1910, it was the tallest building in the entire British Empire! Imagine how impressive that must have been back then. It's a great example of early skyscraper design.

The impressive Dominion Building, once the tallest in the British Empire.

Old Hotels and Their Stories

Many historic hotels in Vancouver tell tales of travelers and city life.

The Europe Hotel at 43 Powell Street is famous for its unique triangular shape, like a flat iron. It was built in 1909 and was one of the first fireproof hotels in Western Canada.

The unique triangular shape of the Europe Hotel.

The Hotel Georgia at 801 West Georgia Street is another grand old hotel. It opened in 1927 and has hosted many famous people over the years. It's known for its beautiful design and fancy ballrooms.

The grand Hotel Georgia, a landmark in downtown Vancouver.

The Yale Hotel at 1300 Granville Street is a historic blues music venue. It has been a popular spot for live music for many decades, making it a cultural landmark.

The Yale Hotel, a famous spot for music lovers.

Important Office Buildings

Some historic buildings were once busy offices where important decisions were made.

The Sun Tower at 100 West Pender Street is another early skyscraper, built in 1912. It used to be home to the Vancouver Sun newspaper, and its dome is a recognizable part of the city's skyline.

The Sun Tower, with its distinctive dome.

The Former Main Post Office at 701 West Hastings Street, now part of Sinclair Centre, was once the main place where all the mail for Vancouver was sorted and sent. It's a huge, grand building that shows how important postal services were long ago.

The grand Former Main Post Office building.

The Vancouver Block at 736 Granville Street is a beautiful building with a tall tower and a clock. It was built in 1912 and has been a central part of Vancouver's downtown for over a century.

The Vancouver Block, a historic building with a clock tower.

Historic Places in Vancouver's Neighbourhoods

Beyond downtown, many neighbourhoods in Vancouver have their own special historic places, from schools to unique houses.

Schools with a Past

Several schools in Vancouver are recognized as historic places, showing how education has grown in the city.

John Oliver Secondary School at 530 East 41st Avenue is one of the oldest high schools in Vancouver, opened in 1912. It has seen generations of students pass through its doors.

John Oliver Secondary School, a long-standing educational institution.

General Wolfe Elementary School at 4251 Ontario Street is another historic school, built in 1910. These old school buildings often have unique architectural styles.

General Wolfe Elementary School, a historic school building.

Templeton Secondary School at 727 Templeton Drive is also a historic school, dating back to 1924. These schools are important parts of their communities.

Templeton Secondary School, serving its community for decades.

Unique Houses and Residences

Vancouver also has many historic homes that show different styles of living from the past.

The Condie Residence at 335 West 11th Avenue is an example of a historic home that has been preserved. These houses often have interesting details and stories about the families who lived there.

The historic Condie Residence.

The Hendrix House at 827 East Georgia Street is a special place because it was once home to the grandmother of famous musician Jimi Hendrix. It's a small house with a big connection to music history.

The Hendrix House, with a connection to Jimi Hendrix.

Taylor Manor at 951 Boundary Road is a large, historic house that has served different purposes over the years, including as a care facility. It's a beautiful example of early 20th-century architecture.

Taylor Manor, a grand historic house.

Special Historic Sites and Landmarks

Some historic places aren't just buildings but entire areas or unique structures that are very important to Vancouver's identity.

Gastown and Chinatown: Historic Districts

Gastown Historic District is one of Vancouver's oldest neighborhoods. It's famous for its Victorian buildings, cobblestone streets, and the Gastown Steam Clock. It was the original downtown of Vancouver.
Vancouver's Chinatown National Historic Site of Canada is one of the largest and oldest Chinatowns in North America. It's a vibrant area with unique architecture, traditional shops, and cultural landmarks like the Millennium Gate.

The Millennium Gate in Vancouver's historic Chinatown.

Parks and Green Spaces

Stanley Park National Historic Site of Canada is a huge, beautiful park that is much older than the city itself. It's a National Historic Site because of its importance to Vancouver's history, culture, and natural environment. It's a place where people have gathered for thousands of years.

A view of Stanley Park, a beloved historic green space.

The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and Park at 578 Carrall Street is a peaceful oasis in Chinatown. It's the first authentic classical Chinese garden built outside of China, using traditional methods and materials.

The beautiful Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.

The Bloedel Conservatory at 4600 Cambie Street is a unique domed building in Queen Elizabeth Park. It's a tropical paradise with exotic plants and birds, and its design is a historic landmark.

The unique dome of the Bloedel Conservatory.

Bridges and Theatres

The Lions Gate Bridge is an iconic suspension bridge that connects Vancouver to the North Shore. It opened in 1938 and is a major landmark, known for its beautiful lights at night.
The Orpheum Theatre is a grand old theatre at 884 Granville Street. It opened in 1927 and was originally a vaudeville house, then a movie palace. Today, it's a concert hall and a National Historic Site.
The Vogue Theatre National Historic Site of Canada at 918 Granville Street is another historic theatre, built in 1941. It's known for its Art Deco style and has hosted many live performances and events.

The historic Vogue Theatre, a beautiful Art Deco landmark.

The Pantages Theatre at 144 East Hastings Street was one of the earliest vaudeville theatres in Vancouver, opening in 1907. It played a big role in the city's entertainment history.

The Pantages Theatre in its early days.

Other Notable Historic Places

Many other buildings and sites contribute to Vancouver's rich history.

The Carnegie Centre at 401 Main Street was originally Vancouver's main public library, built with money from Andrew Carnegie. Today, it's a community center, but its history as a place of learning is still important.

The Carnegie Centre, once Vancouver's main library.

The Sam Kee Building at 8 West Pender Street is famous for being the "narrowest commercial building in the world." It's only about 1.5 meters (4 feet 11 inches) deep! It's a quirky and interesting piece of Vancouver's history.

The incredibly narrow Sam Kee Building.

The Canadian National Railways / VIA Rail Station at 1150 Station Street is a grand train station that has welcomed countless travelers to Vancouver since it opened. It's a reminder of the importance of train travel in connecting Canada.

The historic Canadian National Railways / VIA Rail Station.

The Seaforth Armoury at 1650 Burrard Street is a large military building that has been a home for Canadian soldiers for many years. Its impressive architecture makes it a notable landmark.

The imposing Seaforth Armoury.

These are just a few of the many historic places in Vancouver. Each one has a unique story to tell about the city's past, from its early days as a small settlement to the bustling metropolis it is today. Visiting these sites is a great way to connect with history and see how Vancouver has grown.

Images for kids

102 Powell Street
106 West Hastings Street
108 West Hastings Street
111 East Pender Street
112 West Hastings Street
116 West Hastings Street
118 Alexander Street
120 Powell Street
127 East Pender Street
1386 Thurlow Street
1390 Thurlow Street
141 East Pender Street
150 West Hastings Street
151 West Hastings Street
152 West Hastings Vancouver
157 Alexander Street
1628 Marpole Avenue (image caption from original, but image is for 1927 West 17th Avenue)
166 East Pender Street
191 Alexander Street
200 East Pender Street
212 East 38th Avenue
218 Keefer Street
231 East Pender Street
252 East Georgia Street
27 Alexander Street
27 East Pender Street
310 West Cordova Street
314-316 West Cordova Street
320 West Cordova Street
34 Powell Street
41 Alexander Street
445 Gore Avenue
5 West Hastings Street
511 Union Street
52 Powell Street
53 West Hastings Street
Grand Trunk Pacific Hotel
550 Beatty Street
56 Powell Street
58 Powell Street
633 East Hastings Street
7 West Hastings Street
80 East Pender Street
827-863 Hamilton Street
A. MacDonald and Company Building
Abrams Block
Afton Hotel
Alexander Residence
Arco Hotel
B.C. & Yukon Chamber of Mines Building
B.C. Market Company Building
B.C. Permanent Building
B.C. Plate Glass and Importing Co. Building
Bank of British Columbia
Bank of Commerce
Bank of Nova Scotia
Beckett House
Bessborough Armoury
Bodega Hotel
British Columbia Securities Building
Brown and Company Warehouse
Burns Block (18 West Hastings Street)
Byrnes Block
Cambie Hotel
Canada Permanent Building
Canadian National Railways / VIA Rail Station
Canadian Pacific Telegraph Building
Carnegie Centre
Ceperley Rounsfell Building
Chan House
Cheng Wing Yeong Tong Society Building
Chin Wing Chun Society Building
Chinese Benevolent Association Building
Chinese Freemasons Building
Chinese School
Chinese Theatre
Chinese Times Building
Chrysler Building
City Hotel
Coastal Church
Condie Residence
Des Brisay Block
Dominion Building
Dominion Hotel
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and Park
Dunn Block
Edgett Building
Europe Hotel
Europe Hotel Annex
Evergreen Building
F. Morgan Building
F.R. Stewart and Company Building
Fairmont Training Academy
Federal Motor Company Building
Ferguson Block
Ferrera Court
First Baptist Church
Flack Block
Fleck Brothers Building
Former B.C. Hydro Building
Former Main Post Office
Former Vancouver Public Library
General Wolfe Elementary School
Glenesk Residence
Great Western Hotel
Greenshields Building
Hampton Hotel
Harbour Block
Harper Warehouse
Hartney Chambers
Henderson Block
Hendrix House
Homer Street Arcade
Hotel Connaught
Hotel Empress
Hotel Georgia
Hotel Stanley
Hotel Winters
Hudson's Bay Company Warehouse
Hutchinson Block
International Order of Odd Fellows Hall
J.W. Horne Block
John Oliver Secondary School
Kane Block
Kelly, Douglas and Co. Warehouse
Kendrick House
King Block
Leckie Building
Leeson, Dickie, Gross & Co. Warehouse
Lipsett Building
London Hotel
Lord Strathcona Community School
Lovell Block
Lumbermen's Building
MacMillan Bloedel Building
Mah Society Building
Malkin Building
May Wah Hotel
McBeth and Campbell Building
McPherson Building
Ming Wo Building
Nationalist League Building
New Fountain Hotel
News-Advertiser Building
Nichol House
Pantages Theatre
Park Grocery and Woodside Apartments
Pennsylvania Hotel
Pither & Leiser Building
Prince Rupert Meat Company Building
Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Rand House
Rainsford and Co. Warehouse
Riggs-Selman Building
Roberts Block
Roberts Building
Robinson Block
Roosevelt Hotel
Royal Bank of Canada
Royal Bank of Canada, West Hastings Branch
Sam Kee Building
Seaforth Armoury
Stanley Park National Historic Site of Canada
Springer and Van Bramer Block
Sun Ah Hotel
Sun Tower
Swift Canadian Packing House and Office Building
Taylor Building
Taylor Manor
Templeton Secondary School
Terminus Hotel
The Barn
The Homer
The Shirley Houses
Thompson Rooming House
Tiedemann Block
Town and Robinson Block
Tweedale Block
Twigge Block
Vancouver Block
Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation Offices
Vancouver Club
Vancouver Gas Company Warehouse
Vancouver Labour Temple
Vancouver Museum and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
Vancouver Vocational Institute
Vancouver's Chinatown National Historic Site of Canada
Victoria House
Victory Square Park
Villa del Lupo Restaurant
Vogue Theatre National Historic Site of Canada
Westcoast Transmission Building
Western Canada Building
Yale Hotel
Yue Shan Society Buildings

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List of historic places in Vancouver Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.