Nelson Historic & Heritage Sites
Nelson heritage building, Picture BC photo
The mineral wealth generated by the Silver King Mine stimulated the construction of Nelson's large inventory of Victorian buildings. Many fine homes and ornate commercial buildings were erected in the late 19th and early 20th century, and they all have a story to tell.
Victorian Heritage Buildings
In the early days, in typical boomtown style, wood frame buildings were hastily constructed in close proximity to one another. After a couple of devastating fires, Nelson's first City Council passed a bylaw requiring all buildings in the downtown core to be constructed of noncombustible materials.
This led to the construction of the many elegant brick and stone Victorian structures. Several, including the 1909 Beaux Arts Chateau-style Courthouse and the Italianate Bank of Montreal, were designed by Francis Rattenbury, best known for British Columbia's parliament buildings in Victoria.
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In the 1980s, key buildings on Baker Street were the subject of extensive restoration in conjunction with a downtown revitalization programme. Many fine Victorian homes (and a number of more humble dwellings) have been restored by their owners to their original condition.
History and Heritage Tours
Nelson has a reputation as one of the finest heritage cities in Canada. The city’s brewery and many churches in the uphill district are remarkably preserved. A stroll through the community reveals rock walls that used to shore up gardens and road beds that add a distinctive charm to the area.
Learn more about the architecture of Nelson's more than 350 heritage buildings with a self-guided walking tour of the downtown core and a driving tour through some of the city's residential neighbourhoods. Brochures for both tours are available from the Visitor Centre. Or do both on foot, save gas and escape worrying about parking cars.
Streetcar #23
Take a ride on a piece of Nelson's heritage that spends the summer moving back and forth along the waterfront. Streetcar #23, which plied the streets of Nelson until the streetcar system was replaced by buses in 1949, is now fully restored and carries passengers between the Prestige Lakeside Resort and Lakeside Park. Ask the volunteer conductor to share some stories about the streetcar and its fascinating history.
To learn more about the city's culture and history, visit Touchstones Nelson: Museum of Art & History. The museum also houses an art gallery.
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