From modest beginnings to first rate attraction, the Capilano Suspension Bridge and surrounding park is a BC success story. The name ‘Capilano’ originated from the Squamish Nation’s “Kia’palano”, which translates to “beautiful river.” George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and land developer, purchased 6,000 acres of forested land on either side of the Capilano River. He erected the first building in the area, a small cabin perched precariously on the edge of the canyon wall. This happened in 1888 and then in 1889, Mackay constructed the first rudimentary footbridge across the canyon using hemp rope and cedar planks. After Mackay passed away, his original rope bridge was replaced by a wire cable bridge in 1903. Since that time, the bridge and surrounding area have changed ownership a number of times and have undergone various revitalization projects. Finally, in 1983, Nancy Stibbard purchased the bridge from her father Rae Mitchell. Stibbard had an ambitious plan to elevate the entire park to a world-class tourist destination. In less than ten years her dream was realized and thanks to her forward thinking she was inducted into the Canadian Tourism Hall of Fame in 2000. Today, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of British Columbia’s most popular attractions. I hope you enjoy this collection of historical photos of the park and surrounding area from its earliest days.
For even more historical photos, please see my previous posts including, Old Photographs from the Stanley Park Zoo, Old Photographs from Grouse Mountain, Vintage Photographs from Vancouver’s Most Popular Beaches, and Vintage Photographs of Parks from Around Vancouver.
The photos above were collected from the City of Vancouver Archives. If you’re interested, additional information can be found for each photograph on their website. Stay tuned for additional posts featuring historical photos from Vancouver, British Columbia, and across Western Canada. We’d love to know what you think in the comment section below.
