Vancouver Police Museum - walk your city’s history and crime
The Police Museum has always been relatively unknown to those who live in Vancouver, but the tourist guidebooks (like Frommers and Lonely Planet) consistently rate it as one of the best and most interesting museums in the city. Tourists have definitely found this tour appealing (thanks in part to an international surge in so-called “black tourism”), but locals also seem to be keen on learning more about their own city’s naughty past, particularly when we have such a squeaky clean appearance.
“Ohhh! That’s why things are that way!” is the most common reaction. Often, people will walk down the street and see things, but not really understand them. Why are there separate “Gentlemen’s” and “Women with Escorts” entrances into the old hotel bars? Why is Vancouver so casual when it comes to marijuana? Why do we have government-run liquor stores? Why are there so many rumours of tunnels under Chinatown?
There really are too many misconceptions to recount. A few include: That Vancouver is a quaint seaside city with a quiet and boring history (the tour proves otherwise!), that the issues of the Downtown Eastside are a recent phenomenon (they’ve been there for 120 years), that there was a large system of tunnels in Chinatown (ummm… no!), that Vancouver is and always has been a multicultural city (we’ve actually been pretty profoundly racist for much of our history)…the list is long.
Walk and see by yourself…
Now in its second year, Sins of the City Walking Tours are led by Chris, rain or shine, every Friday and Saturday from 4 - 6 PM throughout the summer. All tours depart from the museum, which is located at 240 E. Cordova St, Vancouver.
The cost is $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. This includes tax, as well as admission to the museum on the day of the tour. There is no age limit set, but this is definitely a tour for adults. A few cool parents have brought their teenagers, but this is definitely racy material.
Reservations are required 24 hours in advance by calling 604.665.3346 or emailing programs@vancouverpolicemuseum.ca. Chris can accommodate up to 30 people per tour, and can do tours at custom times and days for groups of 10 or more at a discounted price, regardless of the season. For more info, visit www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca
