Page 210 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Pacific Northwest

208  V ANC OUVER

7 Vancouver Police
Museum
240 E Cordova St. Map 3 C2.
Tel (604) 665-3346. @ 3, 4, 7, 8.
Open 9am–5pm Tue–Sat.
Closed major hols. & 8 =
∑ vancouverpolicemuseum.ca
Opened in 1986 to mark the
centennial of the Vancouver
police force and housed in the
former (1932–80) Coroner’s
Court Building, this museum
includes the city’s original
morgue. Step into the autopsy
laboratory to view the forensic
table where actor Errol Flynn Chinatown’s record-thin Sam Kee
was declared dead on October Building (1913)
14, 1959. Scenes for the TV
series Da Vinci’s Inquest have Street, the main byway, is
Statue of “Gassy Jack” Deighton in been filmed here. A large mural straddled near Taylor Street by
Gastown’s Maple Tree Square depicts the colorful history of the Millennium Gate, a good spot
police department, although it from which to view architectural
6 Maple Tree is not possible to see the entire details of the area’s restored
Square mural as exhibits have been buildings. The 1907 Chinese
placed in front of some sections. Freemasons Building
Water St at Carrall St. Map 3 B2. Street weaponry, prohibited (1 W Pender Street) was once
@ 50.
weapons, and antique firearms home to Dr. Sun Yat-Sen. The
Search as you might, you are on display in the Sins gallery, 1913 Sam Kee Building
will not find a maple tree in as well as three Thompson (8 W Pender Street) is the result
Gastown’s Maple Tree Square. submachine guns. In the True of government expropriation
The famous tree, destroyed in Crime gallery, visitors can see of property in order to widen
the Great Vancouver Fire of 1886 real evidence from some of the street. In defiance, the
(see p207), marked a popular Vancouver’s unsolved historical owner built the world’s thinnest
meeting spot for local residents. crimes. There is also an area commercial building on the
Standing in the square is where children can dress up 5-ft- (1.5-m-) wide plot that
Okanagan artist Vern Simpson’s in real police uniforms. was left. The 1889 Wing Sang
6-ft- (1.8-m-) tall hammered Building (51E Pender Street),
copper statue of John the oldest in Chinatown, had
“Gassy Jack” Deighton, for 8 Chinatown an opium factory at its rear. It
whom Gastown is named. E Hastings to Union Sts, from Carrall has now been transformed into
Commissioned in 1970, the to Gore Sts. Map 3 C3.  Stadium– a private exhibition space for
statue recognizes this voluble, Chinatown. @ 3, 4, 7, 8, 19, 22. the Rennie Collection.
or “gassy,” entrepreneur’s place 8 call (604) 632-3808. Known for traditional shops,
in Vancouver history. ∑ vancouver-chinatown.com Chinese herbs, housewares,
In 1867, Deighton built, near coffee shops, tearooms, and
Maple Tree Square, the first Vancouver’s Chinatown is older restaurants, Chinatown is largely
watering hole on Burrard Inlet. than the city itself. Pender a daytime place.
Deighton apparently persuaded
local millworkers to build the
Globe Saloon in just 24 hours.
Deighton died on May 29,
1875, at age 44, and was buried
in an unmarked grave in New
Westminster, some 13 miles
(20 km) from Gastown.
The restored Gaoler’s
Mews in the square marks
the residence of Constable
Jonathan Miller, the town of
Granville’s first policeman, in
1871. The two adjacent small
log prisoner cells had doors
but no locks. The ornate Millennium Gate welcoming visitors to Chinatown
For hotels and restaurants see p290 and pp302–3

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