One of the things I value most about travel is the learning experience; I learn so much about history when I travel! My family traveled a lot when I was a kid (we all still do), and though I didn’t always want to be dragged to this or that historic site or museum, I retained a huge amount of information from that period. As an adult, I do the dragging.

If you’re a traveler who loves history—and you’re lucky enough to come to Vancouver—then this Traveler’s Guide to Historic Attractions in Vancouver, BC is for you!

Historic First Nations Art and Artworks

The first people to inhabit British Columbia were Aboriginal people, including the First Nations of Haida, Coast Salish, and Musqueam (among others). These civilizations go back 8,000 years and possess an incredible history of art and craftsmanship.

Discover First Nations art and artifacts at:

• UBC Museum of Anthropology
• Totem Poles at Stanley Park

Historic Gastown

By the mid-1800s, the City of Vancouver was beginning to take shape. One of the earliest landmarks was the Gassy Jack saloon, built in 1867 by “Gassy” Jack Deighton. The neighborhood of Gastown developed around this saloon.

Today, Gastown is rich with historic sites, including a statue of Gassy Jack Deighton and many of Vancouver’s oldest buildings. Visitors can explore Gastown or take a Sins of the City walking tour, led by the Vancouver Police Museum, which highlights the city’s tumultuous 19th-century beginnings.

Vancouver Historic Journeys: Engine 374 & St. Roch

In 1887, the Canadian Pacific Railway’s Engine 374 pulled the first transcontinental passenger train into Vancouver. Visitors can see Engine 374 and learn about its history for free at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Yaletown.

Additionally, climb aboard the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Schooner St. Roch at the Vancouver Maritime Museum. Built in 1928, St. Roch was the second ship to navigate the Northwest Passage and the first to travel that passage from west to east.

Historic Steveston Village

Located about 30 minutes south of Downtown Vancouver in Richmond, BC, Steveston Village was once known as the “salmon capital of the world.” It is still celebrated for its Canada Day salmon festival.

History enthusiasts can explore the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site museum to learn about 19th-century salmon canning and fishing, and view restored heritage boat works at the nearby Britannia Heritage Shipyard.

Burnaby Village Museum

Located about 40 minutes east of Downtown Vancouver, the Burnaby Village Museum is an open-air museum that recreates a small town in British Columbia from the 1920s. The “village” features a main street, a restored Interurban tram (that was in operation from 1913 to 1958), historic shops, and a working 1912 C.W. Parker Carousel. This unique museum setting is especially enjoyable for children.

Vancouver Heritage Foundation Tours

Participants can learn a great deal about Vancouver’s history by joining tours offered by the non-profit Vancouver Heritage Foundation. Their neighborhood tours are filled with rich information and exquisite details, while their Heritage House Tours provide an intriguing glimpse into historic homes.

Haunted Vancouver

For a fun twist on history, explore Vancouver’s many legendary ghosts. From the “Lady in Red” haunting the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver to various ghost stories surrounding the Old Spaghetti Factory in Gastown, there are numerous spooky tales to discover.