Old Photographs of Beaches in Vancouver

Situated on the coast of the pacific ocean, the city of Vancouver is home to some of Canada’s most picturesque and historical public beaches. Some of the most well known beaches in the area include Kitsilano beach, Second and Third beaches, English Bay, Wreck beach and Jericho. Included in this historic gallery curated from the Vancouver Archives are aerial views of the beaches, surrounding cliffs and skylines, as well as photographs of Vancouver residents gathering and enjoying the beaches all throughout the late 1800s through to the mid 1900s.

1889-Greer's Beach, English Bay
1889-Greer’s Beach, English Bay
1898-[Bathing beauties at Greer's Beach (Kitsilano Beach)]
1898-[Bathing beauties at Greer’s Beach (Kitsilano Beach)]
1900?-Wreck of the steam tug Annie at English Bay Beach at the foot of Denman St.
1900?-Wreck of the steam tug Annie at English Bay Beach at the foot of Denman St.
1904-English Bay Bathing Beach
1904-English Bay Bathing Beach
1908-Kitsilano Beach
1908-Kitsilano Beach
1910?-Photograph shows bathers on Second Beach
1910?-Photograph shows bathers on Second Beach
1920 - [Bathers and pier], English Bay, Vancouver, B.C.
1920 – [Bathers and pier], English Bay, Vancouver, B.C.
1920 - A wooden bridge over a slough at Jericho Beach
1920 – A wooden bridge over a slough at Jericho Beach
1920 - Aerial view of Kitsilano Beach
1920 – Aerial view of Kitsilano Beach
1920-English Bay
1920-English Bay
1920-Kitsilano beach
1920-Kitsilano beach
1920?-English Bay Beach
1920?-English Bay Beach
1920?-Kitsilano Beach
1920?-Kitsilano Beach
1928-Kitsilano Beach
1928-Kitsilano Beach
1930 - Stanley Park with Second Beach Swimming Pool in the foreground
1930 – Stanley Park with Second Beach Swimming Pool in the foreground
1930-Siwash Rock and Third Beach, Stanley Park
1930-Siwash Rock and Third Beach, Stanley Park
1930?-English Bay Beach
1930?-English Bay Beach
1930?-View of Third Beach at Stanley Park
1930?-View of Third Beach at Stanley Park
1936 - City Life Savers [putting on demonstration at English Bay Beach]
1936 – City Life Savers [putting on demonstration at English Bay Beach]
1937-Sunbathers at Kitsilano Beach
1937-Sunbathers at Kitsilano Beach
1937-Sunbathers on Kitsilano Beach
1937-Sunbathers on Kitsilano Beach
1938 - Beach, English Bay, Vancouver, B.C.
1938 – Beach, English Bay, Vancouver, B.C.
1943 - Army radio [operator and soldiers on] Kitsilano Beach
1943 – Army radio [operator and soldiers on] Kitsilano Beach
1945-Kitsilano Beach and Park
1945-Kitsilano Beach and Park
1946 - Beach at Whytecliff
1946 – Beach at Whytecliff
1946-Rider on Kitsilano Beach
1946-Rider on Kitsilano Beach
1946-Third Beach
1946-Third Beach
1947-Kitsilano Beach
1947-Kitsilano Beach
1952-Kitsilano Beach
1952-Kitsilano Beach
1952-Vancouver beaches [Kitsilano Beach]
1952-Vancouver beaches [Kitsilano Beach]
1954-Aerial view of Kitsilano looking east over Kitsilano Beach
1954-Aerial view of Kitsilano looking east over Kitsilano Beach
1956-Beach at Kitsilano
1956-Beach at Kitsilano
1957-Crowds on Kitsilano Beach
1957-Crowds on Kitsilano Beach
1961-Ferguson Point and Third Beach area
1961-Ferguson Point and Third Beach area
1961-Third Beach before reclamation
1961-Third Beach before reclamation
1962-Tide Bay Company pumping sand onto Third Beach
1962-Tide Bay Company pumping sand onto Third Beach
1968 - A day at the beach
1968 – A day at the beach
1968 - looking north west showing shoreline and Kitsilano Beach
1968 – looking north west showing shoreline and Kitsilano Beach
1970-English Bay from Kitsilano Beach
1970-English Bay from Kitsilano Beach
1970-Seawall and swimmers at Third Beach
1970-Seawall and swimmers at Third Beach
1970-Ted Rawson flying kite on Kitsilano Beach-Credit-Pugstem Publications
1970-Ted Rawson flying kite on Kitsilano Beach-Credit-Pugstem Publications
1970?-Kitsilano Beach
1970?-Kitsilano Beach
1971 - Beach Avenue
1971 – Beach Avenue

1973 - [Bird on beach at] low tide
1973 – [Bird on beach at] low tide
1973-Range on Wreck Beach [low tide]
1973-Range on Wreck Beach [low tide]
 

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