Vancouver of 110 years ago looked very different.
Even in the dark of the night.
A historical photo in the City of Vancouver Archives shows the view of the city from Grouse Mountain.
In 2025, the same vantage point is a popular view for visitors to the ski hill, but over a century ago it was a much more difficult place to get to.
For this photo from 1915 (even before the first lodge was built there) W.J. Carruthers made the trek and stayed until dark to look back over the city below illuminated by a full moon.
Vancouver at the time was a much smaller place. No towers existed, other than those of a couple of churches.
The 14-storey Dominion Building in Gastown would have been the tallest structure in the city. The Sun Tower was still about a year off. Neither are identifiable, though, in this image.
Few features are visible, though Stanley Park's Brockton Point is fairly obvious, with only a single light (which is probably the lighthouse). Not far away is the Port of Vancouver, with well-lit docks stretching into the water.
In the distance, though, Vancouver is fairly uniform. The grids of the suburbs stretch out into the distance, though much of it wasn't developed like it is now. In fast, a dark patch is visible where significant developments didn't yet exist.
On the right side of the photo, partially blocked by a tree, is a full moon. It hangs over the Salish Sea south of Point Grey like a lamppost, illuminating the ocean below.
