Ever wondered what the Vancouver Aquarium was like before it became such a staple of Vancouver?
The iconic tourist attraction was opened in 1956 as a world-class site that also incorporated marine research, education, and more. It was the first public aquarium in Canada, and its opening was a significant moment for the city.
As a major attraction, brochures were produced to advertise visiting the aquarium, and in 1963 this one from the Vancouver archives was produced.
"Aquatic specimens from all over the world are yours to marvel at, study, and enjoy at the Vancouver Public Aquarium," states the brochure, going on to say it is one of the finest aquariums anywhere.
Most of the species it advertises are still there, from electric eels to Pacific octopuses, from side-necked turtles to lionfish. Notably, no mammals are mentioned anywhere. The first captive orca wouldn't arrive until 1967.
The brochure captures what the aquarium, which was ahead of the curve at the time, was all about.
Some things seem a bit behind the times, like the fact they had a collections boat, which divers would use to go capture specimens just to display.
Perhaps the most surprising thing in the brochure is the admission. Adults could get in for 35 cents, and kids were 10 cents. In today's dollars that's about $3.30 and a $1, substantially less than the $40 per adult and $26 per child nowadays.
Click here to see a larger version of the front panel, and here for the back panel.
To see more of what the City of Vancouver Archives has in its vast collection, check out their website.
