VPL and others

I wandered down to the Vancouver Public Library today to do some research. And wait until you see this building.

From a distance it is an impressive building. And close up it is even more awe inspiring.

This building was designed by Moshe Safdie. It was the most unique design yet the most beloved by the public. Standing at 350 West Georgia the library is nine floors and contains over 2.25 million items. You should be able to find what you want in here.

I suppose that this isn't really history since it was built in 1995 but it contains a lot of historical facts. And is a good place to go. Just for those who are curious it also cost about 107 million dollars to build.



Across the street is the Canada Post building.

At one time this was the largest welded steel structure in the world. And this is interesting. In 1954 the federal minister of public works got the city to build a tunnel from the CPR station to the new post office for mail transfer. Mail began being transferred by air not long after that so the tunnel was never used. But the tunnel was built - it cost 1.6 million dollars and is two kilometres long. I wonder if it is still there. I see the makings of a great novel here. This building was completed on March 14, 1958.

This is the Seymour building located on Seymour Street. Named I guess because of Sir Edward Hobart Seymour. However I haven't been able to find that much information yet.

These houses are in the Strathcona area and I took the picture on Saturday. They represent the colors of the time, as well as the style.There is a grant program where someone will some out and scrape down through the layers of paint  to find the color the house was originally. If the present owner does not find those appealing they can have house painted in colors that represent the era the house was built.

These row houses, once again in the Strathcona area, were built probably around 1906. They have been rebuilt and stayed as true to the original style as possible.

To be honest I had a few photos of another segment that I was anxious to share but they didn't transfer for some reason. So I will have to go back and take them again.

I hope you see the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Vancouver Public Library, Georgia,Canada PostStrathcona,Walk,history,