Vancouver is a coastal seaport city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, as the most populous city in the province and the fifth-most densely populated city in North America, behind New York City, Guadalajara, San Francisco, and Mexico City.

Street scenes of Vancouver from between the 1930s and ’50s

Vancouver is one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities in Canada. It is consistently named as one of the top five worldwide cities for livability and quality of life.

Port Metro Vancouver is the fourth-largest port by tonnage in the Americas, the busiest and largest in Canada, and the most diversified port in North America. While forestry remains its largest industry, Vancouver is well known as an urban centre surrounded by nature, making tourism its second-largest industry.

Take a look at these fascinating black and white pics from Vancouver Public Library Historical Photographs to see street scenes of Vancouver from between the 1930s and 1950s.

Beacon Theatre in old Pantages Theatre location, 20 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, 1932

 

Capitol Theatre, 820 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1934

 

Granville Street looking South from Dunsmuir, Vancouver, BC, 1936

 

Globe Theatre 800 block of Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1937

 

Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1937

Astoria Theatre, 147-149 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, 1938

 

Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1938

 

Plaza and other thetares,, Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1938

 

Lido Seafood Grotto at night, Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1945

 

Ingledews Shoes, Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1946

 

Sun Building at night, Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC, 1946

 

Theatres along Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1946

 

Ferguson’s Hardware and Furniture in Marpole, 9090 Hudson Street, Vancouver, BC, 1948

 

Orpheum Theatre at night Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1948

 

Sweet 16, Clapps Shoes, Kirk’s Clothes, 4400 block of West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, 1948

 

West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, 1948

 

300 to 400 blocks West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, 1949

 

Dueck Chevrolet Neon Sign, Daily Province Newspaper Billboard, Granville & West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, 1949

 

Gerry’s Gowns on 774 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1949

 

Sun Building at night, Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC, 1949

 

East side of block on Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1950

 

Fish & Oyster Bar, Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1950

 

Granville & Georgia Streets, Vancouver, BC, 1950

 

Granville Street from Georgia looking north, Vancouver, BC, circa 1950

 

White Lunch Cafeteria neon sign over sidewalk, West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, 1950

 

Aristocratic Restaurant on 2856 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC, 1951

 

Aristocratic Restaurant, Granville Street & West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, 1951

 

Night on Granville Street, Theatre Row, Vancouver, BC, 1951

 

Supervalu Supermarket, East Hastings, Vancouver, BC, 1952

 

West Broadway, Vancouver, BC, 1952

 

Aristocratic Restaurant, 3400 Kingsway,, Vancouver, BC, 1953

 

Looking East from 800 Block West Georgia at night, Vancouver, BC, 1953

 

Man in convertible parked outside Artray photograph Studios, ,781 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, 1953

 

Monty’s Spare Ribs Restaurant, Richards Street, Vancouver, BC, 1954

 

Cunningham Drugs Ltd, Granville & Georgia looking north, Vancouver, BC, 1955

 

Montreal Trust Building, Granville and Georgia looking north west, 1955

 

View of north end of Granville Bridge looking north Vancouver, BC, 1956

 

700-800 blocks of Granville Street, Vancouver, BC, 1958

 

People lined up for the opening of the Defiant Ones at the Vogue Theatre, Vancouver, BC, 1958

 

Vogue Theatre at night with spotlights, Vancouver, BC, 1958