BEACON HILL PARK HISTORY 1842-2007
By Janis Ringuette
Beacon Hill Park, in Victoria, British Columbia, is a spectacular publicly owned property with a rich and fascinating history. This website presents a detailed chronological history of the Park from 1842 through 2007.
Two cultures in turn -- aboriginal and European -- shaped the landscape. The history begins with how the first inhabitants, the Lekwungen, used the land. Particular attention is given to original habitat features of the Park before white settlement in order to track later changes. When the first white immigrants arrived, Hudson’s Bay Company goals and strategies as well as British colonization policies became part of the Park’s history.
Beacon Hill Park was granted in Trust to the City of Victoria in 1882. The majority of this history records park developments, habitat changes, events, and controversies during the 125 years of City control from 1882 to 2007.
NEW CHAPTER -- 2007
Go directly to this latest chapter (click)---> CHAPTER 22
Copyright 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Janis Ringuette. Limited excerpts are permitted but please credit the author.
Website information:
We invite you to visit our new website highlighting heritage and art features on Victoria's sidewalks and streets. In a series of short photo-stories, we focus on unique "hidden in plain sight" city features usually overlooked by residents and visitors. Topics include mechanical clocks, Broad Street art and codes, sidewalk prisms, Waddington Alley, hitching posts, ceramic tile street names, manhole covers and old Fort Victoria mooring rings. Explore the site by clicking on the following link:
STREETSCAPES
Janis Ringuette began researching and writing the history of Beacon Hill Park in 2002. Norm created the website and is chief photographer. Readers comments and suggestions are welcome. Email: jar@islandnet.com
