Vancouver History

In 1792, Captain George Vancouver arrived in the Pacific Northwest region to search for the Northwest Passage. He mapped and surveyed the area that is now downtown Vancouver, giving various parts British names.

In 1808 Simon Fraser, an explorer and fur trader arrived in Vancouver following an overland route from Eastern Canada by a river he thought was the Columbia.

In 1825, Dr. John McLoughlin decided to move the northwest headquarters of the Hudson’s Bay Company from Astoria to a more favorable setting upriver. He named the site after Point Vancouver on Broughton’s original map. Fort Vancouver was thus born.

For many years, Fort Vancouver was the center of all fur trading in the Pacific Northwest. It was also a center of British dominion over the Oregon Territory. In 1846, American control was extended north to the 49th parallel. The northwest became part of the United States.

In 1886, Granville was incorporated as city of Vancouver. Almost immediately it was razed by fire and the city fathers, undaunted, set up city hall in a tent. It was at this time that the land that is Stanley Park was set aside for public use.

Chronological Order of Vancouver's History

1792 - Captain George Vancouver arrived.
1808 - Simon Fraser, an explorer and fur trader arrived.
1827 - Hudson's Bay Company built a trading post on Fraser River.
1858 - Gold was found within the Fraser River in 1858 and then within a few weeks time, over 29,000 Americans made their way over for their share of the gold.
1867 - A man called "Gassy Jack" opened a saloon for forestry workers on the shore of Burrard Inlet. It became so popular a community built up around the place and called itself Gastown.
1870 - Gastown is incorporated as the town of Granville.
1884 - The Canadian Pacific Railway moved its terminal from the head of Burrard Inlet to the area of Granville.
1886 - Granville incorporated as the City of Vancouver: which had about 1,000 people. The first mayor was realtor M.A. McLean.
1887 - The Canadian Pacific Railway first train arrived; the final stop of the first transcontinental trip.
1889 - The very first Granville Street Bridge was completed and then another bridge was built later in 1909.
1890 - The first lighthouse is built at Brockton Point. Electric streetcars also began operating that year.
1891 - The Interurban starts up - which is the city's first tram-based public transit system.
1915 - UBC, known as the University of British Columbia opens for the very first time.
1925 - The first Second Narrows Bridge connects the city with North Vancouver.
1938 - The Lions Gate Bridge is completed
1939 - The landmark Hotel Vancouver is completed.
1983 - The BC Place Stadium inflates and becomes the world's largest air-supported dome. It has 60,000 seats.
1985 - The SkyTrain starts up mid-December.
1995 - The new Vancouver Public Library building opens and is a landmark within the downtown core
2004 - The hosting of the first large outdoor public arts show on the streets of Vancouver called 'Orcas in the City' by the BC Lions Society.
2010 - Vancouver hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics.