Steamship Terminal - Downtown Victoria
The plaque marks the building formerly used by the Victoria to Vancouver Ferry. The building is located in downtown Victoria, BC at 470 Belleville Street, just across the street from the provincial Parliament buildings. The steamship terminal was built for the Canadian Pacific Railway which operated the ferry system at the time. After changes to the ferry system in the 1960's resulted in the building becoming disused it housed a series of low-rent attractions (including a wax museum). Currently the building houses a restaurant on the main floor (which occupies the former waiting room) and an art gallery on the upper floors.
With 13 ionic columns facing the harbour the white Steamship Terminal, along with the Parliament Buildings and the Empress Hotel, dominate Victoria's inner harbour. All three buildings were designed by the architect Francis Rattenbury who would die (true story) by being murdered in bed by his wife's lover.
The plaque has a "CPR" (Canadian Pacific Railway) logo at the top and reads:
THIS BUILDING WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1924 AS THE CANADIAN PACIFIC MARINE TERMINAL BUILDING.
DESIGNED BY THE ARCHITECTURAL PARTNERSHIP OF F.M. RATTENBURY AND P.L. JAMES IT BECAME HEADQUARTERS FOR THE CANADIAN PACIFIC BRITISH COLUMBIA COAST STEAMSHIP SERVICE AND GATEWAY TO VICTORIA FOR PASSENGERS TRAVELLING ABOARD C.P.R. COASTAL VESSELS.
IT'S IMPOSING CLASSICAL PRESENCE CONTINUED TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF COUNTLESS VISITORS AND ALLIED ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL THROUGH THE 1930'S, 1940'S, & BEYOND. THE LAST SHIP ON A REGULAR RUN TO LAND PASSENGERS AT THIS SITE WAS THE "PRINCESS MARGUERITE" THEN A CANADIAN PACIFIC STEAMSHIP. IN 1963 C.P. MOVED TO ANOTHER ADJACENT LOCATION.
THE BUILDING PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE CAPITAL'S MARITIME HISTORY. SO THAT IT MAY CONTINUE TO GRACE THE WATERFRONT, IN 1978 IT CAME UNDER THE STEWARDSHIP OF THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL COMMISSION.
Submitted by:
Lloyd Mildon
Victoria, BC