Stanley Park 125

Learn about the rich history of Vancouver's most beloved and iconic park.

1792-06-22 14:02:08

First explorers discover the park

Spanish and British explorers are the first Europeans to glimpse the heavily forested peninsula that would become Stanley Park.

1860-06-22 14:02:08

Stanley Park logged for timber

Brockton Point is cleared as the site for Captain Stamp’s sawmill though it was eventually built at the foot of today’s Dunlevy Street. Many of the park’s trails are old logging skid roads.

1860-06-22 14:02:08

Fisherman's Cove settlement at Brockton Point

Portuguese, Scots, First Nations people and others make their home on the point long before there was a city. 'Portuguese' Joe Silvey was the first European to settle in the future park.

1885-06-22 00:00:00

Canadian Pacific Railway request

The Canadian Pacific Railway suggest in a letter to the Dominion Government that the lands east of a line between English Bay and Second Beach be given to the railroad “for docks, warehouses and buildings.” This request included Coal Harbour and the future Brockton Point.

1886-05-12 00:00:00

Vancouver's City Council first order of business

The first order of business for the first meeting of the newly minted City of Vancouver council on May 12, 1886, was to pass a resolution to ask the Dominion Government to convey the peninsula known as the Government Reserve to the City “in order that it be used by the inhabitants of said City of Vancouver as a park.”

1887-05-16 14:02:08

The park is leased to the City

The Dominion Government agrees to lease the 400 hectare Government Reserve to the City of Vancouver for a nominal one dollar per year.

1888-01-01 12:25:03

Smallpox quarantine

Deadman’s Island is chosen as a site to quarantine smallpox victims. A small rudimentary hospital known as the “Pest House” is built to house patients.

1888-03-08 00:00:00

First Nations remains found

First Nations remains found in 1888 and in 1928 were taken away to Ottawa. In 2006 they were finally returned from museum storage for reburial by the Squamish Nation in Brackendale.

1888-09-27 14:02:08

Stanley Park Opens

Mayor David Oppenheimer officially opens Stanley Park on September 27th.

1888-09-27 14:02:08

Entering the new park

A bridge is built across the narrow neck of Coal Harbour at the foot of Georgia Street. Gate posts and “Stanley Park” signs are erected at each park entrance. Signs at the Georgia Street entrance warn visitors to keep their carriage speed at a walking pace.

Stanley Park 125

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