List of historic places in Victoria, British Columbia facts for kids
Welcome to Victoria, a city full of amazing history! This article will tell you about some of the oldest and most important buildings and places here. These are called historic places because they have special meaning from the past. They are protected so everyone can enjoy them for many years.
Victoria has many historic spots. They are recognized by different groups, like the Canadian government, the province of British Columbia, or the city itself. Each place tells a unique story about how Victoria grew and changed over time. Let's explore some of these cool places!
Contents
Famous Historic Buildings
Victoria is home to many buildings that tell stories of the past. These places are often beautiful and have played a big part in the city's history.
The Empress Hotel
The Empress Hotel is one of Victoria's most famous buildings. It's a huge, fancy hotel that looks like a castle! It was built a long time ago, starting in 1904, and opened in 1908. Many important people have stayed here. It sits right by the Inner Harbour, making it a landmark. It's a National Historic Site of Canada.
Craigdarroch Castle
Imagine living in a real castle! Craigdarroch Castle is a stunning mansion built in the late 1800s. It was the home of Robert Dunsmuir, a very wealthy coal baron. This castle has 39 rooms and beautiful stained-glass windows. It's like stepping back in time to see how rich families lived over a hundred years ago. It is also a National Historic Site of Canada.
Emily Carr House
Emily Carr House is the childhood home of a famous Canadian artist and writer, Emily Carr. She was born here in 1871. Emily Carr is known for her paintings of British Columbia's landscapes and Indigenous cultures. Her house is now a museum. It helps us remember her important work. It is a National Historic Site of Canada.
Victoria City Hall
The Victoria City Hall is where the city's government works. It was built in 1890. This building has a grand clock tower. It's a key part of Victoria's downtown area. It shows how important the city was even in the past. It is a National Historic Site of Canada.
Victoria's Chinatown
Victoria's Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in Canada. It started in the mid-1800s. Many Chinese immigrants came here to work. This area has unique buildings and narrow alleys, like Fan Tan Alley. It's a vibrant place with a rich history. It is a National Historic Site of Canada.
Other Notable Historic Places
Many other buildings and sites in Victoria are also considered historic. They each have their own story.
- Fan Tan Alley: This is a very narrow alley in Chinatown. It's famous for its small shops and unique feel.
- Charles Hayward House: A historic home at 1003 Vancouver Street.
- Heritage House: Located at 1004 Fairfield Road.
- William Hampson House: Another historic house at 1012 Richardson Street.
- 1114 Arthur Currie Lane: A significant building on Arthur Currie Lane.
- Adelphi Building: Found at 1300-1304 Government Street.
- Alexandra Ladies' Club: A historic club building at 716 Courtney Street.
- B.C. Legislature: The main government building for British Columbia.
- Bank of British Columbia: An old bank building at 1020-1022 Government Street.
- Bank of Montreal, Government Street Branch: A grand bank building at 1200 Government Street.
- Bank of Toronto: Located at 630 Yates Street.
- Bay Street Armoury: A historic military building at 713 Bay Street. It is a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Bay Street Substation: An old power substation at 637 Bay Street.
- BC Electric Company Building: An important building for early electricity at 1515 Blanshard Street.
- BC Electric Railway Company Depot: Where electric trains used to start their journeys.
- BC Power Commission: Another building related to Victoria's power history.
- Beaconsfield Inn: A charming historic inn at 998 Humboldt Street.
- Begbie Hall: Part of the Royal Jubilee Hospital, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Belmont Building: A historic commercial building at 801-807 Government Street.
- Bentall Building: A significant building at 1060 Douglas Street.
- Board of Trade Building: Located at 31 Bastion Square.
- Bridgman Building, Broughton Street: A historic building at 604 Broughton Street.
- Bridgman Building, Government Street: Another Bridgman Building at 1007 Government Street.
- British American Trust Company Building: Found at 737 Fort Street.
- Brown & Cooper / F. Moore Buildings: Historic buildings at 909-911 Government Street.
- Brown & Cooper Building: Located at 910 Gordon Street.
- Burnes House: A historic house at 18-26 Bastion Square.
- Canada Hotel: An old hotel at 1330 Broad Street.
- Canadian National Institute for the Blind Building: Located at 1609 Blanshard Street.
- Carnegie Library: A former library building at 794 Yates Street, funded by Andrew Carnegie.
- Causeway Tower and Garage: Part of the Inner Harbour area.
- Cecil Roberts House: A historic home at 913 Burdett Avenue.
- Central Building: Located at 620 View Street.
- Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association and Chinese Public School: Important buildings for the Chinese community.
- Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association Building: Another key building in Chinatown.
- Christ Church Cathedral Memorial Hall: Part of the beautiful Christ Church Cathedral.
- Church of Our Lord: A historic church at 626 Blanshard Street, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- City Brokerage Building: Located at 1018 Blanshard Street.
- City Hall Annex: An addition to the City Hall.
- City of Victoria Police Station: The historic police station.
- Colonial Hotel: An old hotel at 547-555 Johnson Street.
- Colonial Metropole Hotel: Another historic hotel on Johnson Street.
- Congregation Emanu-El: A historic synagogue at 1421 Blanshard Street, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- CPR Steamship Terminal: Where steamships used to arrive and depart.
- Craigflower Manor House: A very old manor house, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Craigflower Schoolhouse: A historic school building, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Crystal Garden: A beautiful glass building that used to be a swimming pool.
- Cusack Printing Office: An old printing office.
- Dashwood Manor: A historic manor at 1 Cook Street.
- Deanery: Part of the Christ Church Cathedral complex.
- Doane Block: A historic block of buildings at 1314-1324 Douglas Street.
- Dominion Hotel: An old hotel at 759 Yates Street.
- Duck's Block: A historic building at 1316 Broad Street.
- Esquimalt and Nanaimo Railway Roundhouse: An old railway building, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Estate of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia: The official residence of the Queen's representative, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Fairfield Block: A historic block at 1601 Douglas Street.
- Finch Building: Located at 719 Yates Street.
- Finlayson Building: Two historic buildings, one on Wharf Street and one on Pandora Avenue.
- First Baptist Church: A historic church at 1600 Quadra Street.
- Former Victoria Law Courts: The old courthouse, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Fort Victoria: The original trading post that started Victoria, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Gee Tuck Tong Benevolent Association Building: Another important building in Chinatown.
- George Joe Building: A historic building at 564-72 Fisgard Street.
- Grand Pacific Hotel: An old hotel at 530-540 Johnson Street.
- Green Block: A historic block at 1210-1216 Broad Street.
- Greenwood Building: Located at 1009 Government Street.
- H. Saunders Grocery and Liquor Store: A historic store building.
- Hamley Building: Located at 1001 Government Street.
- Hampton Court: A historic building at 159 Cook Street.
- Hanna's Undertaking Parlour: An old funeral home building.
- Helmcken House: One of the oldest houses in British Columbia.
- Hook Sin Tong Charity Building: A charity building in Chinatown.
- Hotel Douglas: A historic hotel at 1450 Douglas Street.
- Hudson's Bay Company Department Store: A large, historic department store.
- Inner Harbour Causeway: The historic waterfront area.
- Janion Hotel: An old hotel at 1612 Store Street.
- Kaiserhof Hotel: A historic hotel at 1322 Blanshard Street.
- Ker Block: A historic building at 512 Fort Street.
- King Edward Hotel: An old hotel at 631-645 Yates Street.
- Kong Sin Wing Rooming House: A historic rooming house in Chinatown.
- Law Chambers: Historic law offices at 45 Bastion Square.
- Lee Block: A historic building at 565 Fisgard Street.
- Lee Cheong Building: Located at 533 Fisgard Street.
- Lee Woy & Company Building: A historic company building in Chinatown.
- Lewis & Humphreys Block: A historic block at 566-570 Yates Street.
- Lim Dat Building: A historic building at 1617-23 Store Street.
- Loo Tai Cho Building: Another historic building in Chinatown.
- Lum Sam & Look Den Building: Located at 534 Pandora Avenue.
- Mable Carriage Works: An old carriage factory.
- Macdonald Block: A historic block at 12-16 Bastion Square.
- Macdonald Building: Located at 546 Pandora Avenue.
- Malahat Building / Old Victoria Custom House: A historic customs building, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Masonic Temple: A historic meeting hall at 646-654 Fisgard Street.
- McBeath House: A historic house at 614 Seaforth Street.
- McPherson Playhouse: A historic theatre at 3 Centennial Square.
- Merchant's Bank of Canada: An old bank building at 1225 Douglas Street.
- Metropolitan Building: Located at 811-817 Government Street.
- Milne Block: A historic block at 546-548 Johnson Street.
- Montrose Apartments: Historic apartments at 1114 Blanshard Street.
- Morley's Soda Water Factory: An old soda water factory.
- Morris Tobacconists: A historic tobacco shop.
- National Electric Tramway and Light Company Powerhouse: An old power station.
- New England Hotel: A historic hotel at 1312-1314 Government Street.
- Ning Young Building: A historic building in Fan Tan Alley.
- Odd Fellows Hall: A historic meeting hall at 500 Fort Street.
- Odeon Theatre: A historic movie theatre.
- On Hing & Brothers Store: A historic store in Chinatown.
- On Hing Brothers Building: Located at 1710-1714 Government Street.
- On Hing Building: Another historic building in Chinatown.
- Oriental Hotel: A historic hotel at 550-552 Yates Street.
- Pacific Transfer Building: A historic transfer company building.
- Palace Cigar Store: A historic cigar store.
- Pemberton Memorial Operating Room: Part of the Royal Jubilee Hospital, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Point Ellice House / O'Reilly House: A historic house and garden, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Pinehurst: A historic home at 617 Battery Street.
- Pioneer Square Park: A historic park and cemetery.
- Porter Block: A historic block at 1402-1406 Douglas Street.
- Prior Building: A historic building at 1401 Government Street.
- Portland Hotel: An old hotel at 721-25 Yates Street.
- Promise Block: A historic block at 1006 Government Street.
- R.V. Winch and Company Building: A historic company building.
- Reid Block: A historic block at 1205-1213 Wharf Street.
- Reynolds Block: A historic block at 1300 Douglas Street.
- Rhode's Bakery: A historic bakery.
- Rithet Building: A historic building at 1107-1125 Wharf Street.
- Robinson's Sporting Goods: A historic sporting goods store.
- Rogers Building: A historic building at 913 Government Street, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- Rose Manor: A historic manor at 730 Quadra Street.
- Roslyn: A historic house at 1135 Catherine Street.
- Ross Bay Cemetery: A large historic cemetery.
- Rossland Apartments: Historic apartments at 1270 Yates Street.
- Royal Bank Building: A historic bank building.
- Royal Theatre: A historic theatre at 805 Broughton Street.
- Sayward Building: A historic building at 1201-1213 Douglas Street.
- Scott and Peden Building: A historic building at 1415-1425 Store Street.
- Scott Building: Located at 705 Johnson Street.
- Sheam & Lee Building: A historic building in Chinatown.
- Simmons Block: A historic block at 907 Government Street.
- Simon Leiser Building: A historic building at 524 Yates Street.
- South Park School: A historic school at 508 Douglas Street.
- Southgate & Lascelles Building: A historic building at 1102 Government Street.
- St. Andrew's Catholic Cathedral: A beautiful historic church at 1202 Blanshard Street.
- St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church: Another historic church at 924 Douglas Street.
- St Ann's Academy: A former school and convent, a National Historic Site of Canada.
- St. Joseph's Apartments: Formerly St. Joseph's Hospital, a historic building.
- Station Hotel: A historic hotel at 501 Pandora Avenue.
- Stores Building: Located at 254 Belleville Street.
- Strand Hotel: A historic hotel at 550-554 Johnson Street.
- Strathcona Hotel: A historic hotel at 919 Douglas Street.
- Sussex Apartment Hotel: Historic apartments at 1001-1019 Douglas Street.
- Temple Building: Located at 519-525 Fort Street.
- Thomas Earle Warehouse: A historic warehouse at 530-534 Yates Street.
- Thomas Nicholson Grocery: A historic grocery store.
- Trebatha: A historic house at 1124 Fort Street.
- Tweedsmuir Mansions: Historic mansions at 900 Park Boulevard.
- Tye Chong Building: A historic building in Chinatown.
- Union Bank: A historic bank building at 1205 Government Street.
- Union Club: A historic club building at 805 Gordon Street.
- Vernon Block: A historic block at 1000-1002 Government Street.
- Victoria Conservatory of Music: A historic music school at 1411 Quadra Street.
- Victoria Gas Company: An old gas company building.
- Victoria Gas Company Works: The historic gas works.
- Victoria Hotel: Two historic hotels, one at 1400 Government Street and another at 901-905 Government Street.
- W.G. Cameron Building: A historic building at 581 Johnson Street.
- Weiler Brothers Warerooms: A historic furniture store.
- Weiler Building: A historic building at 921 Government Street.
- Wentworth Villa: A historic house at 1156 Fort Street.
- Westholme Hotel: A historic hotel at 1415 Government Street.
- Willie's Bakery: A historic bakery at 537 Johnson Street.
- Yarrow Building: Located at 637-649 Fort Street.
- Yarrow Chapel: Part of the Christ Church Cathedral complex.
- Yates Block: A historic block at 1244 Wharf Street.
- Yee King Yum Building: A historic building in Fan Tan Alley.
- Yen Wo Society Building: A historic society building in Chinatown.
Images for kids
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1459 Vining St, Victoria, BC.jpg
1459 Vining Street