Why is the Gastown Steam Clock (Vancouver) so Unique?
What is the secret behind Vancouver’s unique steam clock adorning Water St in Gastown – How does this quaint, seemingly old clock work? The Gastown Steam Clock is a rare example of horologist work based on a steam source, a steam engine integrated with the clock.
Vancouver is a fascinating multicultural city with significant neighbourhood diversity, architecture, and history. The sights cover a wide range of periods from the Indians’ original culture, through industrialisation and up to the present day with ground-breaking architecture across the entire city. One of the most intriguing neighbourhoods is Gastown with its unique combination of Victorian-era buildings, enticing art galleries, trendy eateries and cafés, and not least, a peculiar, classy clock originally based on an 18th-century mechanism, a steam engine.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Photo: Travel In Culture
The Canadian horologist Raymond Saunders is the architect and horologist behind the famous clock, together with the craftsman Doug Smith, who mastered the metalwork. Although it looks historic and much older, the Gastown clockwork dates from 1977, when it was placed at street level in Vancouver. The architect exploited an existing steam grate in Gastown for his industrial-looking clock.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Raymond Saunders was inspired by the steam-powered clock constructed by John Inshaw in the Steam Clock Tavern in Birmingham, UK, which was of a much older date: 1859.
Photo: Travel In Culture
The clock shows the time on every side of its four faces. Every quarter of an hour, a whistling chime sounds (referring to the Westminster Chimes in London), accompanied by white smoke vapour released at every stroke of the hour. It’s a real crowd-pleaser, and there are always tourists ready with their cameras to capture the perfect photo of the Gastown mini version of Big Ben in London!
Photo: Travel In Culture
The whistling clock was originally powered by steam, initiating the movement of a chain and a series of ball weights, which in turn drive the pendulum clock. The steam mechanism is visible through the glass façade. However, for the last decades, an electric engine has taken over, and today, the Gastown Steam Clock is powered by electricity.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Gastown has a lot more than the quaint Steam Clock. It is a vibrant neighbourhood with cobblestone streets, beautiful old lamp posts, galleries, stylish restaurants, pubs, fashion boutiques, and Victorian-style buildings.
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The quarter is bordered by the waterfront, Granville Square, and Canada Place on one side and East Hastings Street and Main Street on the other corner.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Photo: Travel In Culture
Maple Square has a spectacular historical Victorian building, Byrnes Block, dating from 1886 – and (used to have) a statue of ‘Gassy Jack’ upon a whisky barrel. His real name was Jack Deighton, nicknamed Gassy Jack due to his talkativeness. He was an English sailor arriving in British Columbia in 1858 during the Gold Rush, and he was the founder of Gastown in the 1870s, the city’s first neighbourhood. However, the bronze sculpture was toppled during a march in 2022, leaving the statue’s foundation empty.
Another spectacular building is the flatiron-style building on the same square.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Photo: Travel In Culture
The steam clock designer Raymond Saunders has constructed several other steam clocks located across the world: in Vancouver, Whistler, and Port Coquitlam (all in Canada), Indianapolis (USA), and Otaru (Japan), all placed in public spaces.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Two other historic sights in Vancouver are must-sees – although reflecting very different periods.
Stanley Park – First Nations Totem Poles
The Rose Cole Yelton Memorial Totem Pole | Photo: Travel In Culture
The first is Stanely Park, named after Governor General Lord Stanley. The beautiful landscape park opened in 1888, allowing the public to enjoy the gardens and coastal forest in a unique setting surrounded by water just outside of central Vancouver. Today, the 10-kilometre Stanley Park Seawall Walk around the park is a popular loop trail.
The Chief Skedans Mortuary Totem Pole | Photo: Travel In Culture
The urban park is also a cultural heritage site, designated a national historic site of Canada due to its history and historic events taking place here throughout the last centuries. The peninsula has, among other things, had cultural significance as a First Nations ceremonial site and as a British military reserve. Over the last century, the area has developed further as a recreational site, including a zoo and an aquarium.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Landscape architects and craftspersons have continuously left their mark and shaped the park as it appears today. One of the fascinating elements is the totem pole collection, First Nations Totem Poles, in a meadow setting at the east end of the park. The poles represent the culture of the indigenous people of Canada and are reproductions of original totem poles carved by different artists. The artwork thus tells the stories of the first settlers through the colourful carvings. Some of the most eye-catching poles are the Thunderbird House Post Totem Pole, Oscar Maltipi Totem Pole, Oscar Maltipi Totem Pole, Rose Cole Yelton Memorial Totem Pole, and Chief Skedans Mortuary Totem Pole.
Photo: Travel In Culture
Granville Island Public Market
Granville Island Public Market is a huge indoor market of more recent date, brimming with delicacies in the form of fresh produce in the farmers’ stalls and exquisite seafood coming from the ocean just off Vancouver. The offers include artisan products, handcrafted items and more.
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The island was originally man-made industrial land and was named after the bridge running over it, Granville. It began in 1916 as a convenient space for factories and warehouses. During the 1900s, business industries developed on the island, producing mining equipment and machines for the forestry industry.
Photo: Travel In Culture
The present-day Public Market was established in 1984 in some of these original factory buildings and a train caboose. Today, it is a lovely place for a (half-)day trip from the bustling city!
For more inspiration for what to do in Canada, you may want to read Revelstoke – Bears and Summer Festival and Exploring 5 Cultural Attractions in Calgary
Read next: Extraordinary Things to Do in Ketchikan and Whale Watching at Icy Strait Point
Why is the Gastown Steam Clock (Vancouver) so Unique?
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Why is the Gastown Steam Clock (Vancouver) so Unique:
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