Old Photographs of Buildings in Vancouver

Throughout its history of being one of the biggest and most culturally influential cities on Canada’s West Coast, Vancouver has been home to a variety of styles of architecture throughout the city and its surrounding residential areas. Much of the changes in architectural style can be seen through the lens of photographs that showcase both urban buildings such as municipal city halls, bank headquarters, theatres, post offices, apartment buildings, and hotels, as well as residential homes whose construction has been monumental to their neighbourhoods’ architectural evolution throughout the twentieth century. In this gallery, many historic photos of Vancouver architecture are featured, ranging between the early 1900s to the 1960s.

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

1901 - view of Vancouver looking north east
1901 – view of Vancouver looking north east
1907 - Hastings street looking east from Cambie
1907 – Hastings street looking east from Cambie
1910 - Construction crew standing in front of apartment building at 1089 West 15th Avenue
1910 – Construction crew standing in front of apartment building at 1089 West 15th Avenue
1910 - Hendry residence, 1251 Burnaby Street
1910 – Hendry residence, 1251 Burnaby Street
1911 - The Badminton Hotel at 603 Howe Street
1911 – The Badminton Hotel at 603 Howe Street
1912 - Bank of Montreal located at northeast corner of Dunsmuir and Granville Street
1912 – Bank of Montreal located at northeast corner of Dunsmuir and Granville Street
1912 - Bank of Montreal located at northeast corner of Dunsmuir and Granville Street
1912 – Bank of Montreal located at northeast corner of Dunsmuir and Granville Street
1914 - 3838 Cypress Street residence
1914 – 3838 Cypress Street residence
1914 - Upper floors of the second Hotel Vancouver under construction
1914 – Upper floors of the second Hotel Vancouver under construction
1915 - Canadian Bank of Commerce in the Carter Cotton Building
1915 – Canadian Bank of Commerce in the Carter Cotton Building
1920 - 3838 Cypress Street residence
1920 – 3838 Cypress Street residence
1922 - Dodd's house 3216 West 28th Avenue, front view
1922 – Dodd’s house 3216 West 28th Avenue, front view
1928 - Ceiling decoration in the Vancouver Stock Exchange Building
1928 – Ceiling decoration in the Vancouver Stock Exchange Building
1932 - Holy Rosary Cathedral vestibule and altar
1932 – Holy Rosary Cathedral vestibule and altar
1936 - Architectural details of St. James Church
1936 – Architectural details of St. James Church
1936 - Grand Carved Arch - erected for Vancouver Golden Jubilee
1936 – Grand Carved Arch – erected for Vancouver Golden Jubilee
1939 - Vancouver Airport Administration Building
1939 – Vancouver Airport Administration Building
1945 - Exterior of Capital theatre
1945 – Exterior of Capital theatre
1945 - Interior of Roxy theatre
1945 – Interior of Roxy theatre
1948 - Vancouver City Hall
1948 – Vancouver City Hall
1949 - 3492 West 34th [Avenue]
1949 – 3492 West 34th [Avenue]
1950 - Exterior view of Government House
1950 – Exterior view of Government House
1950 - Exterior view of Government House
1950 – Exterior view of Government House
1965 - Architect's rendition of Workmen's Compensation Board office addition
1965 – Architect’s rendition of Workmen’s Compensation Board office addition

 

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