Vancouver Then and Now®

In Vancouver Then and Now archival images have been paired with new photos of the same scenes as they appear today to reveal over a century of dramatic change in this beautiful city.


Vancouver—a major seaport and coastal metropolis—was originally a dense, temperate rain forest. Early industry around the fledgling settlements on the Burrard Inlet exploited the area’s natural resources—lumber, furs, and fish. But the biggest boon to trade and the establishment of the city came with the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1887. Downtown Vancouver evolved into a major city throughout the twentieth century with a striking skyline that includes includes the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Christ Church Cathedral, and the Hotel Vancouver.


Sites include: Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver Art Gallery, The Marine Building, Spencer’s Department Store, Sinclair Centre, Vancouver Club, Birks, Canadian Pacific Railway, Sun Tower, Granville Street, Orpheum Theatre, Rogers Mansion, Coal Harbour, Sylvia Hotel, Vancouver Rowing Club, Stanley Park, Prospect Point, Lions Gate Bridge, English Beach, Stanley Theatre, Glen Brae, Kitsilano Beach, Capilano Bridge