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Forbidden Vancouver Blog

The Marine Building in 1947. Photo by Leonard Frank, City of Vancouver Archives #Bu P346

The Marine Building

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18 May 2018
[By Lani Russwurm] The Marine Building at 355 Burrard Street is widely considered the best piece of architecture in the city and among the finest examples of Art Deco architecture anywhere. It’s also the star...
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The Death of Janet Smith title image, showing a black and white profile portrait of Smith and a photo of her tombstone.

The Death of Janet Smith

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10 Oct 2017
[by Lani Russwurm] The death of Scottish nurse Janet Smith in a Shaughnessy mansion in 1924 is Vancouver’s most notorious cold case — a tale of unsolved murder, high society, racism, drug-fuelled parties, torture, and even...
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Dominion Day celebration in New Westminster, 1878. Photo by French, City of Vancouver Archives #677-452.

Dominion Day on Burrard Inlet

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01 Jul 2017
150 years ago, Gassy Jack was just thinking about opening a saloon at Burrard Inlet (which he did later in 1867). British Columbia had only united with Vancouver Island into one colony the year before...
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The Forbidden Tour

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Mobsters! Opium! Booze! From Victory Sq to Chinatown - delve into Vancouver's dirtiest secrets on this scandal filled walking tour. From $25.

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Lost Souls of Gastown

Lost Souls of Gastown tour guide holding up lantern

Explore Victorian Gastown at night on this gothic theatre adventure. Discover the Great Fire, smallpox outbreaks and unsolved murders. From $25.

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Secrets of the Penthouse

Penthouse Nightclub Vancouver

Tour backstage in Vancouver's most notorious venue with club owner Danny Filiponne and retired cop Grant MacDonald as your guides. Includes Italian dinner. From $65.

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