Architecture

The heritage value of the Vancouver Block lies in its location near the intersection of Granville and Georgia streets in downtown Vancouver, as a symbol of the Edwardian optimism and rapid growth in Vancouver’s economy and urban fabric in the early twentieth century, in its association with the architectural firm of Parr and Fee, in its landmark status, and in its unique representation of the Edwardian Commercial style.

Constructed between 1910 and 1912 on the highest point of land in downtown Vancouver, the building is valued as an example of the city’s pre-war economic expansion and building boom. Rapid population growth during this period stimulated widespread construction in Vancouver. In the late 1890s, Canadian Pacific Railway executives encouraged business leaders to settle on company land, putting its stamp on Granville Street as the most prestigious location in the city for commercial buildings. As the centre of city activity shifted from Pender and Hastings Streets to Granville Street, the Vancouver Block helped to establish the intersection at Georgia and Granville as the commercial core of early Vancouver.

Visible from City Hall at 12th Avenue and Cambie Street, the clock was immediately distinguishable because of it’s large size and unique neon illumination on the hands and dial marks.

The Bridge of the Americas crosses the pacific ocean approaching the Panama Canal at Balboa.  The bridge is a cantilever design where the suspended span is a tied arch. The bridge has a total of 14 spans reaching the length of 1,654 m (5,425 ft).  Originally named the Thatcher Ferry Bridge, after the original ferry which crossed the canal.  Named after Maurice H. Thatcher who was a member of the canal commission and who introduced the legislation.  The name was unpopular with the government of Panama, who preferred the Bridge of the Americas.  This Panamanian view was officiate, ten days prior to the inauguration, by a resolution of the National Assembly on October 2, 1962.  8°57′0″N,79°34′0″W

The Panama Canal locks system, with each passing, lifts each ship up 85 feet (26 metres) to the main elevation of the Panama Canal and down again. It has a total of six steps (three up, three down for a ship’s passage). The total length of the lock structures, including the approach walls, is over 3 kilometres. It was one of the greatest engineering works ever to be undertaken at the time, when they opened in 1914.  No other concrete construction of comparable size was undertaken until the Hoover Dam in the 1930s.

Miraflores is the name of one of the three locks that form part of the Panama Canal.  It is the name of the small lake that separates these locks from the Pedro Miguel locks upstream.