Old Photographs of Cars in Vancouver from 1900-1920 (Gallery)

As someone who loves browsing archival imagery of Canada’s past, searching through the Vancouver Archives is a real treat. The website has so many amazing images dating back to the mid 19th century until now, it is easy to get lost, and drop a few hours of your day on there.

1900?-Car in hollow tree at Stanley Park
1900?-Car in hollow tree at Stanley Park

On my latest visit to the website, I was browsing images of cars. I found that there were so many amazing images that I wanted to share, that I decided to break up the images and make a series spanning 20 years at a time.

So, for this first gallery of old photographs of cars in Vancouver, I thought I would start at the turn of the 20th century and showcase images from the years 1900-1920. Enjoy!

1900?-Man and woman sitting in car in front of house
1900?-Man and woman sitting in car in front of house
1920-Woman and a man with baby standing beside car - left hand drive
1920-Woman and a man with baby standing beside car – left hand drive
1920-Salvation Army official getting out of a car
1920-Salvation Army official getting out of a car
1920-Reo Six [Automobile] leaving Vancouver for New Brunswick
1920-Reo Six [Automobile] leaving Vancouver for New Brunswick
1919-Motor car race at Hastings Park racetrack
1919-Motor car race at Hastings Park racetrack
1919-Man seated in car parked in clearing near houses
1919-Man seated in car parked in clearing near houses
1919-Dominion Tires [truck with crowd and effigy]
1919-Dominion Tires [truck with crowd and effigy]
1918-Mayor Gale and other dignitaries assembled around car decorated for the campaign to build the Trans Canada Highway
1918-Mayor Gale and other dignitaries assembled around car decorated for the campaign to build the Trans Canada Highway
1918-Harry Gale [(Vancouver Alderman and Mayor) and car labelled Vancouver]
1918-Harry Gale [(Vancouver Alderman and Mayor) and car labelled Vancouver]
1918-An open sight-seeing car on the North Vancouver Ferry dock
1918-An open sight-seeing car on the North Vancouver Ferry dock
1917-Open car - Stuart Thomson in driver's seat
1917-Open car – Stuart Thomson in driver’s seat
1915-Opening of the Georgia-Harris Street Viaduct. Dominion Day 1915. Vancouver, B.C.
1915-Opening of the Georgia-Harris Street Viaduct. Dominion Day 1915. Vancouver, B.C.
1915-Car on Georgia Viaduct, Sun Tower in background
1915-Car on Georgia Viaduct, Sun Tower in background
1913-Vancouver Fire Department members and vehicles assembled for a Labour Day Parade at the C.P.R. freight yard on Pender Street
1913-Vancouver Fire Department members and vehicles assembled for a Labour Day Parade at the C.P.R. freight yard on Pender Street
1913-People and dog in car in front of Lumberman's Arch (also known as the Bowie Arch) at Stanley Park
1913-People and dog in car in front of Lumberman’s Arch (also known as the Bowie Arch) at Stanley Park
1913-Man seated in electrically operated coupe style car
1913-Man seated in electrically operated coupe style car
1913-Display of B.C. Electric Railway Company's electric vehicles, including an electric car and an electric bus used by the Lotus Hotel to meet incoming trains and boats
1913-Display of B.C. Electric Railway Company’s electric vehicles, including an electric car and an electric bus used by the Lotus Hotel to meet incoming trains and boats
1913-A car rally on Kingsway
1913-A car rally on Kingsway
1912-Thomas W. Wilby emptying a bottle of Atlantic Ocean water into Pacific Ocean at the end of his trip across Canada by car
1912-Thomas W. Wilby emptying a bottle of Atlantic Ocean water into Pacific Ocean at the end of his trip across Canada by car
1912-The meeting of the waters - Thos. W. Wilby finishing his great journey across Canada by motor car
1912-The meeting of the waters – Thos. W. Wilby finishing his great journey across Canada by motor car
1912-Car and passengers at 1820 Waterloo Street
1912-Car and passengers at 1820 Waterloo Street
1912-A car on Park Road
1912-A car on Park Road
1911-Terminal City Cab Company's Napier car at the corner of Georgia Street and Howe Street
1911-Terminal City Cab Company’s Napier car at the corner of Georgia Street and Howe Street
1910-A woman driving a car
1910-A woman driving a car
1905-A group in a car in front of the Hollow Tree at Stanley Park
1905-A group in a car in front of the Hollow Tree at Stanley Park

 

To check out the Vancouver Archives and their incredible gallery of old photographs and documents, visit their website HERE.