Gastown
|
|
Gastown is an area of Vancouver, British Columbia, located between Downtown and the Downtown Eastside.
Gastown.jpg
History
Gastown is Vancouver's first downtown core and is named after "Gassy" Jack Deighton, a British settler who arrived in 1867 to open the area's first saloon. The town soon prospered as the site of a sawmill, a seaport, and general trade and commerce.
In 1886, the town was incorporated as the City of Vancouver. It fell victim to the "Great Vancouver Fire" that same year, losing all but two of its buildings. Vancouver was completely rebuilt and continued to thrive until the Great Depression in the 1920s, after which Gastown, now just a neighbourhood of the larger city, fell into decline and disrepair until the 1960s. Citizens concerned with preserving Gastown's distinctive and historic architecture convinced the provincial government to declare the area a historical site in 1971, protecting its heritage buildings to this day.
Today
Gastown is a mix of tourist-oriented business (generally restricted to Water Street), restaurants, nightclubs, and general poverty. Gastown's most famous landmark is its steam-powered clock, located on the corner of Cambie and Water Street. The clock is not, in actuality, powered by steam. It still blows steam on the quarter hour, but it runs on electricity.
Popular annual events that take place on the cobblestone streets of Gastown include the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and the Tour de Gastown international bicycle race.
External links
- Official Gastown Community Website (http://www.gastown.org)
- Gastown at Virtual Vancouver (http://www.virtualvancouver.com/gastown.html)
- Vancouver International Jazz Festival (http://www.jazzvancouver.com/jazzfest.cfm)
- Tour de Gastown (http://www.tourdegastown.com)