The southern coast of British Columbia has been home to the Coast Salish people for thousands of years. The first Europeans to visit the area now occupied by Vancouver were the Spanish in 1971. They were followed in 1792 by Captain George Vancouver, a British explorer and map maker. George Vancouver traded with the Indians and charted the area around Burrard Inlet, the current site of downtown Vancouver.

In 1839, the Hudson Bay Company established a fur-trading post at Fort Langley near present-day Vancouver. However, settlement did not begin in earnest until the 1858, when gold was discovered along the Fraser River. The resulting gold rush lured thousands of prospectors who constructed towns and explored the region. The building of the Canadian Pacific Railway during the 1880’s sparked further growth and immigration. Vancouver was officially incorporated as a city in 1886.

During the 20th century, Vancouver grew from a small Edwardian port to a post-modern metropolis. A major turning point occurred in 1986, when the city played host to the Expo ’86 World Exposition. A building boom fueled by foreign investment began after Expo ‘86, and it continues to transform the city’s skyline. In 2003, Vancouver was chosen as the site of 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, increasing the city’s visibility on the world stage.