Let your interest and imagination soar as you tour these historic treasures!
- Antique Row
The section of Fort Street between Blanshard Street and Cook Street is famous among antique collectors for its many shops and boutiques. - Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
An 1889 mansion contains contemporary and historical works by international and Canadian artists, including Emily Carr. - Bastion Square (1843)
The original site of Fort Victoria is now the location of shops, outdoor restaurants with water views and the Maritime Museum of BC. - The Butchart Gardens (1904)
Fifty-five acres of floral finery offer spectacular views and meandering paths. - Carr House (1864)
Visit the birthplace of one of Canada’s foremost artists, Emily Carr. - CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum
The museum is located at Historic HMCS Naden. Guided tours are available. - Chinatown (1882)
Highlights in one of North America’s oldest Chinatowns include the Gate of Harmonious Interest and Fan Tan Alley, the narrowest street in Canada. - Craigdarroch Castle Historic House Museum (1890)
The majestic castle was built by BC’s first millionaire, Robert Dunsmuir. - Craigflower Farmhouse and Schoolhouse (1856)
A pioneer-era home and schoolhouse exhibits life as it was in early Victoria. The Georgian-style manor house was partly built on the old HBC post-and-beam design and still stands amid field and gardens. - Discover the Past Walking Tours
Noted local historian, John Adams, offers a variety of custom and set tours covering Victoria's diverse neighbourhoods, Chinatown, original Fort Victoria, and more. Fascinating ghost walks are available almost daily.
- The Fairmont Empress Hotel (1908)
Historic pictures line the walls of this world-famous hotel designed by Francis Rattenbury. Walking tours are available. - Fort Rodd Hill (1895) and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites (1860)
A coastal defence installment and the oldest lighthouse on the Pacific Coast is set in a beautiful waterfront park. - Hatley Park Castle and Museum (1908)
An opulent castle is surrounded by gardens, heritage trees and a lake, on the grounds of Royal Roads University. - Helmcken House (1852)
Helmcken House was built by Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken and is the oldest house in British Columbia on its original site that still opens for the public. Dr. Helmcken, a surgeon with the Hudson’s Bay Company, set up house in Victoria when he married the daughter of Governor James Douglas in 1852. - Heritage Acres
Old-fashioned museum and historic buildings are exhibited with farming equipment in a park setting. - Legislative Buildings (1898)
An artful blending of European architectural influences, the Francis Rattenbury-designed provincial Parliament Buildings grace Victoria's Inner Harbour. Tours available in the summer months with topics include British Columbia history, architectural features of the buildings and the parliamentary system. - Maritime Museum of British Columbia
More than 5,000 artefacts depict the maritime history of the Pacific Northwest. - Market Square (1898)
An outdoor courtyard surrounded by historic buildings housing shops and restaurants. - Point Ellice House (1867)
An Italianate-style heritage home with flower and vegetable gardens that provides outdoor afternoon tea service. This was the home of a gold rush-era magistrate, Peter O'Reilly. With its exquisite garden, O'Reilly's house was a popular gathering place for Victoria's social elite. - Ross Bay Cemetery
The historic site is the final resting place for many famous Victoria residents. Tours are available. - Royal BC Museum
The world-renowned museum features incredible exhibits on First Nations and early exploration and early contact history, the local, coastal environment and on British Columbia’s natural history.
Victoria's Heritage
Named in honour of Queen Victoria, our beautiful city has an intriguing history as Western Canada’s oldest city and the centre of an ancient and vibrant First Nations society. Explore our historic region and relive the days of amazing wealth, incredible people, truly creative use of the local environment.
Who were the first people to live here?
Archaeologists have found that people were living on the coast of British Columbia 9000 years ago. By 2500 years ago, these people had developed a sophisticated social system with elaborate rituals, a spiritual life and artistic tradition. European contact with the First Nations on Vancouver Island began in 1778 when Captain Cook set foot on Nootka Island. By 1784 Cook’s journals of his travels had been published, prompting explorers and fortune seekers to visit the region. Both the British and the Spanish became deeply involved in exploration of the island over the coming decades.
Since 1843, when the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Chief Factor, James Douglas, anchored his ship the Beaver off Clover Point near Beacon Hill Park, the area surrounding Victoria and its inland harbour has attracted adventurous people from all over the world. Victoria and Southern Vancouver Island started with gold, continued with coal, moved to lumber and other natural resources over the past 150 years. These riches created a vibrant and powerful cadre of wealthy merchants who lavished their riches on beautiful homes.
In the early 1850s, life in Victoria for the 450 men, women and children centered on business generated by the Hudson's Bay Company. Quiet life changed forever with the discovery of gold inland as adventurers flocked to Victoria, the only ocean port and outfitting centre. A wild land-boom followed, with city lots that were going begging one day at $25 apiece, being eagerly snapped up a week later at $3,000 each. The name "Victoria" was adopted when the townsite was laid out in 1852. Victoria was incorporated as a City in 1862. The first legislative buildings, The Birdcages, were built in 1859 overlooking the Inner Harbour. They were replaced in the 1890's by the present provincial legislative buildings.
Today, Victoria is a lively, richly cultured city of almost 400 000 people with a solid economy based primarily on tourism, technology and government.
With a moderate, Mediterranean like climate and entrancingly scenic setting, Southern Vancouver Island and the Victoria region continue to be a popular choice for retirees from all over the world. The city is proud of its heritage, its fine homes and neighbourhoods, its historic and attractive downtown, the gardens and parks and, of course, the Inner Harbour with its vistas toward the famous Empress Hotel and the Parliament Buildings.
Celebrate our 150 years of civic and provincial pride!
A number of fascinating walking tours of Victoria’s historic downtown are available, including visits to some of the remnants of old Fort Victoria. Explore Bastion Square or the Maritime Museum, site of Victoria’s original courthouse. Tour Chinatown, the oldest in Canada. Victoria’s pride of heritage is reflected in the beautifully restored and well maintained architectural treasures located throughout the city. Many of the city’s most popular inns and other accommodations, attractions and restaurants are housed in heritage buildings.