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Published: November 4th 2009
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Vancouver's History Comes Alive
The Hudson's Bay Company set up Fort Langley in 1827 as part of its network of fur-trading posts across Canada. Today, visitors to Fort Langley National Historic Site of Canada can walk in the footsteps of British Columbia's pioneers. The Travelling Canucks recommend a visit since we enjoy the interactive exhibits and talks with knowledgeable costumed interpreters. Nestled in an agricultural setting, the village of Fort Langley offers historical charm and two museums in addition to the Fort Langley National Historic Site. It's well worth a visit!
Europeans first settled in the Colony of British Columbia in the late 1850s because of the Fraser and Cariboo Gold Rushes. In 1871, British Columbia joined Confederation on the promise of the railway. Settlement expanded rapidly in the 1880s following the arrival of the transcontinental railway in 1887, 15 years after joining the Confederation of Canada.
The City of Vancouver, incorporated in 1886, was renamed from Granville (Gastown incorporated as the town of Granville in 1870) to Vancouver in honour of British Captain, George Vancouver, who explored the inner harbour of Burrard Inlet in 1792. Since José María Narváez of Spain was the first European to explore
the coastline of Point Grey in 1791 (Spanish Banks) and some historians believe Francis Drake may have explored the area in 1579, why was Vancouver named after George Vancouver when he wasn't the first to explore the coastline? The city's name was picked on the hunch that the city was destined to be a great one and must have a name commensurate with its greatness. Since it was thought nobody would know where “Granville" was, but everyone knew of Captain Vancouver's Pacific explorations, the city was renamed!
The Canadian Pacific Railway was instrumental in the development of Vancouver - not only did CPR executives rename the city from Granville to Vancouver, they were key to the development of the city since they were given over 6000 acres of land by the Canadian Government to subdivide and develop. The CPR built the train station at the foot of Granville Street (Waterfront Station), the "original"Hotel Vancouver in 1888, and spurred development of Vancouver's Westside.
The Canadian Pacific Railway Station, built in 1914 in the neoclassical-style with a colonnaded facade, is comprised of a dozen ionic columns. The interior walls are painted with wonderful murals that depict the scenery that one
Waterfront Station
Former Canadian Pacific Railway Terminal built in 1914. would see when traveling from Eastern Canada to Vancouver, including the Rocky Mountains.
Vancouver's streetcar system in the 1890s with two interurban lines, one from Vancouver via Burnaby to New Westminster (former capital city of BC) and the Fraser Valley and the other line from Vancouver via Kerrisdale to Lulu Island and onto Steveston, Richmond spurred growth in the Lower Mainland. On the way back to Vancouver from Fort Langley, the Travelling Canucks recommend visiting the Burnaby Village Museum where you can stroll down the streets of their 1920s BC Electric Railway tram stop community. The village offers period costumed townsfolk giving demonstrations in their homes, businesses and shops, some heritage and some replicas, including a blacksmith's shop, a print shop,a garden at the farmhouse and a General Store. Take a ride on the restored 1912 CW Parker carousel - one of Canuck Junior's favorites!
Interested in more historical facts, check out our blogs on Gastown, Granville Island, Downtown, Stanley Park, English Bay and Chinatown!
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