Castles, historical homes & National Historic Sites in and around Victoria, BC
A Trip Back in Time at the McLean Mill National Historic Site, Port Alberni, BC. A 2 1/2 hour drive will take you to one of Vancouver Island most interesting historical sites, the McLean Mill. What makes the McLean Mill such a unique heritage treasure is that much of the original machinery and buildings have
Heritage Acres in Saanich, BC is operated by the Saanich Historical Artifact Society. Like me, you may have seen the sign for Heritage Acres as you're driving along the Pat Bay Hwy. And like me, you may have thought the site contained a few old tractors and some farm equipment along with a little train.
The history of the fortification of Victoria, BC goes all the way back to 1878 when the first muzzle loading batteries were built to defend Victoria and the Esquimalt Naval Base by the Royal Navy. While you may not be a history buff, Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site is still well worth a visit
For a unique biking or walking experience, I suggest you drive up to see the amazing century old Kinsol Trestle which is now part of the Trans Canada Trail. It's about an hour's drive up the beautiful Malahat (Hwy #1) to the parking lot. (See below for directions) It stands 44 metres high and is
The Ross Bay Villa was the home of Francis and Letitia Roscoe from 1865 to 1878. Located at 1490 Fairfield Rd. Victoria, BC Francis was a hardware merchant and active community member. In 1874 he was elected Member of Parliament to pursue the completion of the trans-Canada rail link, the promise that brought British Columbia
There are many historic buildings in and around Victoria and some of the loveliest ones are the churches. Here are some you may wish to check out. Many are still in operation as places of worship, others have been converted to various other uses. The first part in our series is the smaller, less grandiose,
Wentworth Villa, one of the oldest and most valued residential houses in Victoria, was built in the spring and summer of 1863. Done in Gothic Revival style, the sophistication of the design makes it likely to have been planned by an architect. It is believed that Wright and Sanders, the first architectural firm in Victoria,
If you're a history buff ... or if you're simply interested in the heritage aspects of a place, here's some of our most interesting and entertaining locations: Craigdarroch Castle Location: 1050 Joan Crescent, Victoria, BC Craigdarrach Castle, Craigdarroch Castle is a definitively Victorian experience and a National Historic Site. It is a shining
Ross Bay Cemetery is located at 1516 Fairfield Road. Many historical figures from the early days of the province and colony of British Columbia are buried at Ross Bay. It's a beautiful setting and a great place to wander around and look at all the headstones and see if you can find some of the
The Harling Point Chinese cemetery is a beautiful, serene bit of history tucked away in Oak Bay. Mass graves, a brooding figure of native legend and a misfit of a neighbourhood make the Chinese Cemetery a place of eerie, isolated repose. Tucked into Oak Bay at Harling Point, below the point where Crescent Road becomes
