Located on a 1,001-acre peninsula which forms part of Vancouver Harbour, the area now called Stanley Park was home to indigenous settlements for as long as 3,000 years.

In 1863, the strategically located point was set aside as a British military reserve. When the city of Vancouver was incorporated in 1886, it immediately petitioned for the reserve to become a park, which was named for British politician Lord Stanley, Canada’s sixth governor general (and the donor of the Stanley Cup).

The untouched natural landscape of the park, located just off the downtown area, was an instant attraction, drawing families with its sandy beaches, half-million trees and winding, wooded trails.