Historic Vancouver Photos

[officedweller]

I only just realized that the old "Hudson's Bay Company" sign that was replaced a couple of years ago - was from the early 1970s!
That's 40 years old. Wow.

Originally Posted by officedweller

Granville St. reconstruction early 1970's, Al Ingram, City of Vancouver
https://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouverbyte/

[jsbertram]

Originally Posted by officedweller

I only just realized that the old "Hudson's Bay Company" sign that was replaced a couple of years ago - was from the early 1970s!
That's 40 years old. Wow.

Since The Bay is over 300 years old, it takes them longer to change and 'be modern & hip'

[phesto]

Night photo of downtown in the early 80's:

nightlight vancouver by tesseract33, on Flickr

[Architype]

Originally Posted by phesto

Night photo of downtown in the early 80's:

It appears to be from around 1976-77, since there is a crane atop the Harbour Centre, great photo.

[spm2013]

Originally Posted by Architype

It appears to be from around 1976-77, since there is a crane atop the Harbour Centre, great photo.

I'm guessing it was from 1977-1978 since it looks like 1500 West Georgia (the old Wang building) was under construction in the foreground. You can see that old three storey concrete office building across the street and the lights seem to divert where Georgia and West Pender meet. Can also see the old 1333 West Georgia West Coast Transmission building as well.

Harbour Centre construction started in 1974 and finished in 1977.

I'll go with 1977.

I thought the other building under construction next to Harbour Centre was the 200 Granville but the dates don't match up. Any guesses?

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by spm2013

I thought the other building under construction next to Harbour Centre was the 200 Granville but the dates don't match up. Any guesses?

Without any question, it is Oceanic Plaza, built in 1977.

[connect2source]

Absolutely Christmas 1977. I loved when the Sheraton Landmark ( now Empire Landmark ) was lit with the florescent tubes over every balcony, you always could clearly identify it from the top of Grouse Mountain.

[phesto]

A few more from that period:

1979 Colombie-Britannique, Vancouver vue du Parc Stanley_M-Hardy by HARDY Marc et Fernande Sélection, on Flickr

Vancouver from North Shore, Jan 1980 by Blue-yonder, on Flickr

Vancouver False Creek, 1980's Al Ingram, City of Vancouver by vancouverbyte, on Flickr

Pentax MX M lens Aug 1977 Vancouver BC by arnold_broese, on Flickr

Pier B [to] C from Harbour House sept 17 1977 reksten ernie h by vancouverbyte, on Flickr

Vancouver, BC. 1978-01-14. by daveeboz, on Flickr

[spm2013]

What was that terminal building beside the Vancouver Sun/100 Granville?

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by spm2013

What was that terminal building beside the Vancouver Sun/100 Granville?

Canadian Pacific's Pier B-C.

[Pinion]

I've never seen Lower Lonsdale from that period despite living on the North Shore since 1988. There was zero reason to visit. Only the Seven Seas restaurant is familiar.

Great photos. That guy's (blue-yonder) sets are amazing. Especially the Rio one, never knew that style of bikini was decades old.

In all seriousness though he looks like he's had an amazing life.

[connect2source]

English Bay has changed the least of almost any area in Downtown Vancouver, almost a relief! They should have never built the Sylvia tower so close to the iconic Ocean Towers building.

[officedweller]

Ocean Towers - a predecessor to Wave:

Originally Posted by phesto

A few more from that period:

Pentax MX M lens Aug 1977 Vancouver BC by arnold_broese, on Flickr

[SFUVancouver]

Saw this on Reddit and thought it warranted posting here as well. It's absolutely massive but the quality is superb.


Source: http://searcharchives.vancouver.ca/u...e40-A31825.jpg

[Klazu]

When is this taken? Before or after the end of the streetcar era? I am just amazed by the size of the suburbia and it would be interesting to see streetcar network drawn on top of this picture.

[Prometheus]

Originally Posted by Klazu

When is this taken? Before or after the end of the streetcar era?

It appears to be taken before the end of the streetcar era. The streetcar era ended in 1955. But the property that Nat Bailey Stadium was built on in 1951 is still wooded in the photograph.

The photograph is probably even pre-forties. The land that makes up the British Properties in West Vancouver was bought in 1932 and its development financed the construction of the Lions Gate Bridge, which was completed in 1938. Although it is difficult to tell, it appears the British Properties are still being developed in the photograph. It is also hard to make out whether the Lions Gate Bridge is complete (or even exists) in the photograph.

[connect2source]

Originally Posted by Prometheus

It appears to be taken before the end of the streetcar era. The streetcar era ended in 1955. But the property that Nat Bailey Stadium was built on in 1951 is still wooded in the photograph.

I'm guessing late 40's, the second Granville Bridge hadn't started construction, the post-war homes on Arbutus flats look just finished.

[spm2013]

There's a nice clear cut in the British Properties. They bought it in the 30s.

And the Lions Gate Bridge isn't there if my eyes don't fail me (started construction in 1937 and finished in 1938).

[Pinion]

It's from 1948 according to the archive page. Lions Gate is there.

[spm2013]

That thing in QE Park is the Little Mountain Reservoir. Built in 1911 and covered over in 1963.