Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Maritime Museum of British Columbia
At the top (east) end of Bastion Square, the
Maritime Museum of British Columbia
(28
Bastion Sq., 250/385-4222, 9:30am-4:30pm daily, until 5pm in summer, adult $12, seni-
or $10, child under 13 free) is housed in the old provincial courthouse building. It traces
the history of seafaring exploration, adventure, commercial ventures, and passenger travel
through displays of dugout canoes, model ships, Royal Navy charts, figureheads, photo-
graphs,navaluniforms,andbells.Oneroomisdevotedtoexhibitschroniclingthecircum-
navigationoftheworld,andanotherholdsatheater.Themuseumalsohasanautically-ori-
ented gift shop.
Centennial Square
Centennial Square, bounded by Government Street, Douglas Street, Pandora Avenue, and
Fisgard Street, is lined with many buildings dating from the 1880s and 1890s, refurbished
in recent times for all to appreciate. Don't miss the 1878
City Hall
(fronting Douglas
Street) and the imposing Greek-style building of the Hudson's Bay Company. In the heart
of Centennial Square is
Spirit Square,
which is dedicated to First Nations people. Here
you'll find two totem poles and a garden with native plants.
Chinatown
Continue down Fisgard Street into colorful
Chinatown,
Canada's oldest Chinese enclave
(and second-oldest in North America behind San Francisco). Chinese prospectors and
laborers first brought exotic spices, plants, and a love of intricate architecture and bright
colors to Victoria in the late 1850s, and the exotic vibe continues to this day. The original
Chinatown was much larger than today's and was home to more than 3,000 residents at its
peak in the early 1900s. After being revitalized in the 1980s and being declared a National
Historic Site of Canada in 1995, the precinct is now a popular tourist attraction. Its epi-
center is Fisgard Street between Government and Store Streets, with the intricate
Gate of
Harmonious Interest
providing the official entrance.
Today Chinatown is a delicious place to breathe in the aroma of authentic Asian food
waftingfromthemanyrestaurants.PokethroughthedarklittleshopsalongFisgardStreet,
whereyoucanfindeverythingfromfragilepaperlanternsandembroideredsilkstoginger-
root and exotic fruits and veggies, then cruise Fan Tan Alley, the center of the opium trade
in the 1800s.
