Vancouver History – Vancouver's rich history is evident in its settings - where old meets new and industrial meets natural. Tourists only need to take a tour of Vancouver to get a glimpse of the wonderful history, people, and events that give birth to the city's uniqueness.

The Salish Indians were the first inhabitants of the Vancouver area. In 1867, "Gassy" Jack Deighton built a bar, and slowly a small community started growing around it. This small community settled in what became known as Gastown.

The town took its name from Captain George Vancouver, who spent an entire day on the site in 1792, after the railway connected both the eastern and western sides of Canada. The connection of the railway and the docking of a Chinese ship established Vancouver as a trading center.

1849 was the magic year for gold in western North America. In British Columbia, the settlement on Vancouver Island around Victoria officially became a British Colony, the same year as the California Gold Rush. In 1858, gold was discovered in the lower Fraser River and more than 25,000 prospectors - including many who gave up after the California Gold Rush of '49 - managed to find over $500,000 in gold. This encouraged people from all over the world to take part in the gold rush, thus contributing to Vancouver's multiracial community and history.

Currently Canada's third largest city and routinely voted as one of the world's best places to live, Vancouver is preparing for another global event that will make the city's good reputation great. The 2010 Winter Olympic Games will be held in Vancouver, and local politicians see this as a golden opportunity to showcase the city to the world.