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Broadway & Granville
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Welcome to Vancouver. This is as good a place to start as any. Driving North on Granville crossing Broadway to go over the Granville Street Bridge brings you to the downtown core, site of the original Grand Ville which became Vancouver in 1886 in preparation for the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway (1887). The city was so named by William Cornelius Van Horne, General Manager of the CPR. Naming it after Captain George Vancouver, the first eurpoean explorer to enter and survey the area on July 13th, 1792. (less)
Welcome to Vancouver. This is as good a place to start as any. Driving North on Granv...(more)
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Granville St. Bridge
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The original wooden trestle bridge was constructed by the CPR in 1891 at a cost of $16,000. The current 8 lane gateway to downtown Vancouver was constructed in 1954 by the city of Vancouver at a cost of $16.5 million. The bridge spans False Creek and traverses over Granville Island. (less)
The original wooden trestle bridge was constructed by the CPR in 1891 at a cost of $1...(more)
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Seymour St. exit
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Because Granville St. has been converted to a pedestrian mall you must exit to Seymour St. to continue on the driving tour. (Be sure to put the mall on your list o' places to stroll.)Named after Frederick Seymour, the 2nd Governor of the colony of British Columbia (site of present day Victoria on Vancouver Island). Seymour is an arterial route leading directly across the width of the downtown core. We will drive all the way to the end of Seymour to Cordova St. where you will turn left. Along the way you will pass: Yaletown, the district on your right. Recently reclaimed from dereliction on the heels of EXPO 86, the world's fair that generated international noteriety which Vancouver is still benefitting from today.
Crossing Smithe St. you will see the Stage entrance to the Orpheum Theatre on your left. It was the biggest theatre in Canada when built in 1927 and now serves as the permanent home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Crossing Georgia St. you will see the Hudson's Bay company building on your left,recognized by its Corinthian columns (1927) the Vancouver Public Library over your right shoulder.(It looks like the Colosseum in Rome).Approaching Cordova st. You will see the neoclassical structure of the waterfront Station built in 1914 by the CPR. It now serves as the central transit hub for the Skytrain, Seabus, West Coast Express and has been restored to its original paint and decor scheme. (less)
Because Granville St. has been converted to a pedestrian mall you must exit to Seymou...(more)
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The Round House
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In the heart of Yaletown. This building was the CPR's turntable. Locomotives were driven onto it, turned to roll into one of 10 service bays, then spun around to travel in the opposite direction. This brick structure was built in 1888 and added to in 1911, 1940, and 1950. The turntable now serves as an outdoor amphitheatre. (less)
In the heart of Yaletown. This building was the CPR's turntable. Locomotives were dri...(more)
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Orpheum Theatre
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The Stage door. Be on the lookout for celebrity performers making their way in. (less)
The Stage door. Be on the lookout for celebrity performers making their way in.
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The Hudson's Bay Building
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The Vancouver Public Library
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Designed by Moshe Safdie and completed in 1995 this remarkable structure is a must see for building buffs. (less)
Designed by Moshe Safdie and completed in 1995 this remarkable structure is a must se...(more)
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The Waterfront Station
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This structure has been totally reclaimed and restored to its original splendor. Perhaps a "Sky Train" tour is in order. (less)
This structure has been totally reclaimed and restored to its original splendor. Perh...(more)
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Canada Place & The Pan Pacific Hotel.
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Turning left at Cordoba you will travel NW to Howe St. where you will turn right to see Canada Place. This pavillion/convention centre was built for Expo 86. It is designed to resemble a ship at port and serves as the cruise ship dock. The front of the centre houses the 6-star Pan Pacific hotel. On your left is the Fairmont waterfront hotel. The body of water is Coal Harbour which boasts the 2nd busiest Seaport in the world. You will see float planes taking off and landing almost constantly every day. The massive construction project in front of you is slated to be Vancouver's new convention center. Continue to Burrard St. and turn left. (less)
Turning left at Cordoba you will travel NW to Howe St. where you will turn right to s...(more)
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The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel
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Modern facilities constructed in 2000. (less)
Modern facilities constructed in 2000.
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The New Convention Center
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Expect this building to factor heavily into Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics plans. (less)
Expect this building to factor heavily into Vancouver's 2010 Winter Olympics plans.
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Burrard St. (heading SW)
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Burrard St. was named for Capt. James Vancouver's friend Sir Harry Burrard. This is another of Vancouver's arterial roads. Drive slowly as we have a lot to see. (less)
Burrard St. was named for Capt. James Vancouver's friend Sir Harry Burrard. This is a...(more)
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The Marine Building
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Built by Lt. Commander JW Hobbs of Toronto in 1930.It cost $2.3 million to build and was $1.1 million over budget. The Great Depression forced him to sell it to the Guinness family of Ireland for $900,000. A rooftop public gallery was purpose built but the 25 cent entrance fee was too steep during the depression and now there are no public galleries at this majestic Art-Deco masterpiece. It has performed brilliantly in film & television with appearances in Time Cop, Smallville, & both Fantastic Four films. (less)
Built by Lt. Commander JW Hobbs of Toronto in 1930.It cost $2.3 million to build and ...(more)
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The Douglas Jung building
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Named for the first Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament. The naming is a story in itself for later I just want you to notice the cool public art piece in front of the building. It is an absract structure representing highrise elevators. The boxes move up and down at random. It is solar powered so they stop when the sun goes down and don't move regularly on cloudy days. (less)
Named for the first Chinese Canadian Member of Parliament. The naming is a story in i...(more)
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Intersection Burrard & Dunsmuir (facing SW)
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Try to stop briefly in the Bus Zone. Look at Bank of Montreal Building on your right. Notice there are no walls. The radical design is supported by central columns and not much else. From this vantage point you can see the evolution of Vancouver architechture by looking at fine building examples from different eras. (less)
Try to stop briefly in the Bus Zone. Look at Bank of Montreal Building on your right....(more)
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