The City of Vancouver Archives has digitized over 8,000 images from the Pacific National Exhibition (“PNE”) thanks to funding from the British Columbia History Digitization Program. These images are easy to view, re-use, and share. Additionally, they have digitized another 874 images under copyright which can be viewed via the Archives.



1971: Women on the Sky Glider chair lift. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-6891. 1971: Women on the Sky Glider chair lift. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-6891.

The Best Old PNE Photos 1914-1980

PNE photos are very popular as they capture summers of years past in Vancouver, family time, and childhood memories. The sights, the rides, the smells (either good from the concession or less than savoury from the barns), the shopping, the shows and many good times.

Here is just a sampling of the City of Vancouver Archives‘ efforts and hard work they put into sharing these images with us:



1940: Loopo plane ride in midway carnival. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-0798. 1940: Loopo plane ride in midway carnival. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-0798.

1952: Children on the coaster. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-1794.

1936: Salt and Pepper ride. Archives# AM640-S1-: CVA 260-506.

1948: Amusement rides. Archives #AM281-S8-: CVA 180-1517.

1955: Ferris wheels. Archives# CVA 180-3880.

1927: Women in bathing suits posing with a prize bull. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-0296.

1940: B.C. Telephone Co. exhibit on how to use the dial telephone. Archives #AM281-S8-: CVA 180-0876.

(Left) 1940: Acrobatic performance in midway carnival sideshow. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-0794. (Right) 1952: Clown with ducks. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-1776.

1959: Miss PNE and a clown. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-2026.

1960s: Archives# AM1435-: CVA 1435-217.

1961: PNE rides at night. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-3874.

1965: Oddball oasis : Camel with lion-shaped fiberglass water fountain on P.N.E. grounds. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-6041.

1963: PNE crowds near the BC Building. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-6629.

1964: PNE Prize Home. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-3945.

1969: Phyllis Diller with Buzz Aldrin mannequin. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-4190.

1965. Married on the Happyland ferris wheel. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-3876.2.

1969: Archives# AM1551-S2-: 2010-006.180.

1969: Archives# AM1551-S2-: 2010-006.189. 1972: Main entrance gates. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-6902.

1971: Billingsgate Seafood Bar concession. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-6808

1970: Opening day parade. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-4294.12.

1970: Sky Glider chair lift on PNE grounds. Archives# CVA 180-4292.06.

1970s: View of the PNE. Archives# 2010-006.235.

1974: Archives# AM1551-S2-: 2010-006.237.

1977: Archives# AM1551-S2-: 2010-006.145.

1977 View from SkyRide. Archives# 2010-006.149.

1975: PNE crowds, East Vancouver houses in the background. Archives# AM281-S8-: CVA 180-7106.

1977: The Dog’s Ear souvenirs. Archives# CVA 180-7417.

(Left) 1979: Archives# AM1551-S2-: 2010-006.125. (Right) Archives# AM1551-S2-: 2010-006.126.

1980: Archives# AM1551-S2-: 2010-006.133.

1971: Crowd watching All-Terrain Vehicles Show, with Sky Glider chair lift overhead. Archives# CVA 180-6879.

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Related: History of the Wooden Coaster at the PNE, Challenger Relief Map of BC, Archive Photos of Amusement Park Rides.