Old Photographs of Boats in Vancouver from 1920 to 1960

Being a coastal city, much of Vancouver’s culture stems from its proximity to the Pacific Ocean, including its large and lively boating community. The Vancouver Archives is home to a plethora of historic boating photos, including images of locals sailing, shipping boats being loaded, fishing boats, shots of the Vancouver coast and skyline from the ships, as well as monumental ventures such as the first trans-pacific trips from Vancouver to destinations such as the Charolette Islands in Hawaii and Japan. In this gallery, we showcase some of the most fascinating photographs of boating in Vancouver between 1920 and 1960.

1924 - A group posing on the dock next to a boat
1924 – A group posing on the dock next to a boat
1925 - Boat moored at Terminal Dock Company docks
1925 – Boat moored at Terminal Dock Company docks
1929 - Boat
1929 – Boat
1929 - Boat
1929 – Boat
1930 - Boat
1930 – Boat
1935 - A capsized boat (Ballena) at the Union Steamship dock
1935 – A capsized boat (Ballena) at the Union Steamship dock
1935 - Boeing Aircraft Co. of Canada, sail boat Mavourneen leaving for California
1935 – Boeing Aircraft Co. of Canada, sail boat Mavourneen leaving for California
1936 - A boat decorated as a Viking ship
1936 – A boat decorated as a Viking ship
1936 - A boat decorated as a Viking ship
1936 – A boat decorated as a Viking ship
1936 - Boeing Aircraft Co. of Canada, fish boat San Juan No. I
1936 – Boeing Aircraft Co. of Canada, fish boat San Juan No. I
1938 - A boy rowing a boat
1938 – A boy rowing a boat
1938 - A fishing boat and a freighter
1938 – A fishing boat and a freighter
1938 - Fishing boat in the harbour, city in the background
1938 – Fishing boat in the harbour, city in the background
1941 - Fishing boat [at dock] Prince Rupert B.C.
1941 – Fishing boat [at dock] Prince Rupert B.C.
1943 - A.R.P. at North Vancouver Shipyards - fire boat
1943 – A.R.P. at North Vancouver Shipyards – fire boat

1944 - Boat [arriving at] Pacific Mills
1944 – Boat [arriving at] Pacific Mills
1945 - [Boat approaching] Pacific Mills [dock on the] Queen Charlotte Islands
1945 – [Boat approaching] Pacific Mills [dock on the] Queen Charlotte Islands
1945 - [Boat approaching] Pacific Mills [dock on the] Queen Charlotte Islands
1945 – [Boat approaching] Pacific Mills [dock on the] Queen Charlotte Islands

1947 - Canadian Liaison Mission to Japan, Japanese ferry boat on the Inland Sea
1947 – Canadian Liaison Mission to Japan, Japanese ferry boat on the Inland Sea
1948 - [Boat being loaded with paper products at the Westminster Paper Company dock]
1948 – [Boat being loaded with paper products at the Westminster Paper Company dock]
1948 - Boat 'Marabell' - Miss Ballard
1948 – Boat ‘Marabell’ – Miss Ballard
1948 - Boat docked at Commercial Chemicals Ltd.
1948 – Boat docked at Commercial Chemicals Ltd.
1948 - Boat leaving a dock in Vancouver as the North Vancouver ferry is pulling in
1948 – Boat leaving a dock in Vancouver as the North Vancouver ferry is pulling in
1950 - Boat - last run of Sudburg
1950 – Boat – last run of Sudburg
1950 - Boat - last run of Sudburg
1950 – Boat – last run of Sudburg
1950 - Boat 'Lions Gate' under Lions Gate Bridge
1950 – Boat ‘Lions Gate’ under Lions Gate Bridge
1950 - Boat 'Lions Gate' under Lions Gate Bridge
1950 – Boat ‘Lions Gate’ under Lions Gate Bridge
1951 - B.C. Packers ship - shots of deep sea boat and dock
1951 – B.C. Packers ship – shots of deep sea boat and dock
1953 - Bowen Island scene from boat trip
1953 – Bowen Island scene from boat trip
1958 - Boat Pier, Bowen Island, B.C.
1958 – Boat Pier, Bowen Island, B.C.

 

Please visit the Vancouver Archives to find more amazing old photographs from the city’s past.