Ah, Byrnes Block! What more is there to say about this edifice that hasn’t already been said? Really, I think Chris D offers an apt summary of this attraction: “This building exemplifies Gastown as it was, long before the t-shirt shops and tourist traps.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. I mean, if you think about it, this building is basically a portal into Vancouver’s origins. The city was incorporated in 1886 and Byrnes Block was built between 1886 and 1887. As such, it’s been a part of Vancouver quite literally since “day one” and is currently recognized as the oldest building in the city still in regular use today.
To those of us visiting Gastown, we just might simply remark that Byrnes Block is a nice old building suitable for a quick photo with the statue of “Gassy Jack” at the foreground. Indeed, from a practical perspective, that’s pretty much all we can do – unless we intend to patronize the resto housed within. Doing this, though, negates the historical significance of the building, which runs thick and deep through the arteries of the city.
Consider: Much of Vancouver burnt to the ground during the summer of 1886. Construction of Byrnes Block started shortly thereafter. It thus became one of the very first fire-proof buildings developed in the city. And while that is significant in and of itself, the real historical value of this building comes in the form of its Victorian Italianate architectural style – the elaborate window hoods, arched corner pediment, cast iron windows (ground floor), and double-hung windows (second floor). Within the context of history, the overall look of Byrnes Block was that of relative luxury compared to what would’ve surrounded it at the time. In a sense, then, one could make a compelling case that this building is representative of Vancouver’s fledgling economy.
As a tourist attraction, I’ll repeat what I’ve said of Gastown’s other historic buildings: Unless you’re a major architecture nerd, I wouldn’t make a special trip just to see ye olde Byrnes Block. Instead, I’d suggest making it part of a larger Gastown-themed itinerary. That way, you can take in the touristy aspects of the area while also gaining an appreciation of Vancouver’s unique history.