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Culture Days will return September 20 – October 13, 2024.

Self Guided Historic Walking Tour of Nanaimo - Nanaimo's Waterfront

Digital

History & heritage Photography Self-guided Tour Writing & literature
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Date and time

This activity runs the duration of Culture Days.

Location

Nanaimo, BC

Access

Free.

Offered in English.

About

In this tour we will take a walk along Nanaimo's harbour walkway, discovering how the stretch of waterfront has shaped Nanaimo's history and provided livelihoods for the people who have called this place home. We will begin with the Snuneymuxw, the First Nations people who have lived and fished here for thousands of years.

We will see how coal first drew Europeans here, and how they began mining and exporting the so-called 'black diamond' from wharves all around this harbour in the 1850s. We will also take a look at Nanaimo's two other main industries: fishing and lumber, and the city's close connection with America.

We will see how Nanaimoites have used this harbour as the main highway that connects them to the world and chart the rise and fall of a succession of ferry companies over the decades. Finally we'll see that the harbour isn't just a place of economic activity, but a place where people have turned to for recreation and fun. As the harbour has gradually shaken off its industrial roots it has evolved into the beautiful and appealing place we know today.

Organizer

On This Spot

On This Spot​ guides people on a tour back in time, showing & telling the history that surrounds them. On each spot, users will find themselves standing in the footsteps of a photographer who took a historic photo. On site tourists/users can use the built-in camera feature to create their own then-and-photos, which can be shared on social media and saved as a digital souvenir. Selections of these photos are chained together into walking tours that take a deep dive into local history.

On This Spot​ strives to make history engaging, educational, and accessible to all with a focus on easy to use features and a succinct writing style. The aim is to create an intuitive user experience that provides historical unparalleled depth without overwhelming or confusing users.

Contact

This event is part of a hub:

On This Spot - Virtual City Tours

On This Spot Vancouver, BC

On This Spot​ guides people on a tour back in time, showing & telling the history that surrounds them. On each spot, users will find themselves standing in the footsteps of a photographer who took a historic photo. On site tourists/users ca...