Arts and Culture in Vancouver
Vancouver shares a distinctly Canadian culture with the rest of the country. Located right on the tip of the state of Washington, the city is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west and mountains on the north. Named after British explorer George Vancouver, it has a distinctly international flavor, having been host of the 2010 Winter Olympics. About half of its population does not list English as their first language. Founded in 1886, Vancouver has a lot of history and culture to offer visitors.
Museum of Anthropology at UBC (Photo by Matt Chan)
An academic rush
Compared to many other cities in the world, Vancouver is relatively young. However, that does not mean that it has a sparse history. In fact, the Museum of Vancouver (1100 Chestnut Street, Vanier Park, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J9, +1 604 736 4431, website) presents a comprehensive history of the city, not only from its founding, but from the first actual human settlements in the area. Its collections include some artifacts from ancient times. However, the focus of its permanent collections is the twentieth century, represented by different eras. On any given day, you can catch glimpses of Vancouver’s hippie past, its wartime efforts, or its relaxed atmosphere in the 50s.
Museum of Vancouver (Photo by Alan Bruce)
Meanwhile, a more global approach to history can be found at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC (6393 N.W. Marine Drive, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z2, +1 604 822 5087, website). You will find various artifacts from each major continent in the world—coins, textiles, and other items. One of the most prominent exhibits contains mementoes of the First Nations of British Columbia, which consisted of the first human inhabitants of the region. Their legacy over many years before the first European ever stepped onto the land is quite remarkable, and the MOA honors this legacy in its collection.
Vancouver Maritime Museum (Photo by Niamh Redmond)
Budding ship captains and deck hands can view Canadian naval history at the Vancouver Maritime Museum (1905 Ogden Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6J 1A3, +1 604 257 8300, website). The exhibits feature a showcase of naval history. It includes several priceless artifacts in its collection, including the Arnold 176 chronometer used by Captain Vancouver in 1791 and the figurehead from the 19th-century ship The Empress of Japan. However, the undisputed main attraction of the museum is the RCMP Schooner St. Roch, which completed her last voyage in 1948. Children are given a space for their own enjoyment as well. All these displays take you back to a time when naval power ruled the world.
Art with a Canadian flair
Vancouver Art Gallery (Photo by Cord Rodefeld)
Vancouver is a distinctly artistic region. The Vancouver Art Gallery (750 Hornby Street, Vancouver BC V6Z 2H7, +1 604 662 4719, website) features over 9,000 works of art from Vancouver and the larger surrounding area of British Columbia. It contains a diverse collection from different eras in the city’s history, from the 1800s to contemporary times. Not only are classic landscape paintings part of the collection, but abstract works and pictures from the so-called “Vancouver school,” which represents a different take on photography, are featured as well.
Vancouver arts and culture ablaze
Granville Island offers the best that Vancouver has to offer. Cultural aficionados will enjoy its potpourri of art. This center of Vancouver culture has been around since the turn of the 20th century, not as an artists’ center, but as an industrial area. The sawmills and construction shops that dominated Granville’s landscape in the early part of the century were slowly replaced by theaters and markets. Even with this replacement, the traces of manufacturing never really left the place. Instead of manufacturing products, artists here are creating memories and works that will outlast them. Visitors can saunter around the Granville Public Market or the Kids Market, or they can browse several of the island’s many art centers. This oasis certainly offers enjoyment for the entire family.
Granville Island (Photo by Andrea Schaffer)
Tourist options
The Tourism Vancouver Visitor Center (Plaza Level, 200 Burrard Street, +1 604 683 2000, website) can help you in your journey. Its website includes information about the culture and hotspots within the city. It also offers a free Visitor’s Guide to Vancouver’s most popular destinations. A facility for checking out hotels is also available.
Vancouver is a unique place with dozens of sights and sounds. It presents a culture that is vibrant, and this culture is celebrated in honor of its citizens’ unique talents and skills. It is home to a multitude of nationalities from around the globe. This welcoming attitude has led to Vancouver’s reputation as one of the most tourist-friendly destinations in the world.
Tourism Vancouver Visitor Center
- Address: Plaza Level, 200 Burrard Street
- Tel: +1 604 683 2000
- Opening hours: Daily 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Destinations
Museum of Vancouver
- Address: 1100 Chestnut Street, Vanier Park, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J9
- Tel: +1 604 736 4431
- Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.;
- Monday-Tuesday: Closed
- Cost: Adult–$12; Senior and student–$10; Youth–$8
Museum of Anthropology at UBC
- Address: 6393 N.W. Marine Drive, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z2
- Tel: +1 604 822 5087
- Opening hours: Winter—Tuesday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Wednesday to Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Opening hours: Summer and spring—Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Tuesday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Cost: Adults–$14; Students and Seniors–$12; Children up to 6 years old—free
Vancouver Maritime Museum
- Address: 1905 Ogden Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V6J 1A3
- Tel: +1 604 257 8300
- Opening hours: Victoria Day Weekend to Labour Day Weekend—Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Labour Day Weekend to Victoria Day Weekend—Tuesday to Saturday10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m.
- Closed Mondays Labour Day Weekend to Victoria Day Weekend
- Cost: Adults–$11; Youth 6 to 18 years old and seniors–$8.50; Children below six years old—free
Vancouver Art Gallery
- Address: 750 Hornby Street, Vancouver BC V6Z 2H7
- Tel: +1 604 662 4719
- Opening hours: Daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Tuesday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Cost: Fall/Winter—Adults $19.50; Seniors $14; Students $13; Children 5 to 12 years old $7; Children below 5 years old—free
- Cost: Summer—Adults $22.50; Seniors $17; Students $16; Children 5 to 12 years old $7.50; Children below 5 years old—free
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