Downtown in Victoria in Capital, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

Fort Victoria

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011

1. Fort Victoria Marker

Inscription. The pavement design near this plaque marks the location of the east gate of Fort Victoria, built in 1843. From here the wooden stockade stretched northward to the bastion and southward toward what is now Broughton Street. The plaques in the pavement are copied from the official seal of the City of Victoria (1862) and the Crown Colony of the Island of Vancouver and Its Dependencies (1849). The names of early city officials and of colonial legislators surround the respective plaques. The strip delineating the fort stockade bears the names of early residents.

The project was initiated by the Greater Victoria Civic Archives Society and supported by public grants and individual sponsors, many of them family descendants.

[Plaque placed below]
The above plaque was unveiled in a public ceremony May 16, 1986, by four-year old Micelle Crow, the great-great-great granddaughter of Capt. William H. McNeill who first recommended the harbour as a suitable site for Fort Victoria.

Erected 1986 by Greater Victoria Civic Archives Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Forts and Castles. A significant historical date for this entry is May 16, 1843.

Location. 48° 25.523′ N, 123° 22.069′ W. Marker is in Victoria, British Columbia, in Capital.

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It is in Downtown. It is at the intersection of Government Street and Fort Street on Government Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1022 Government Street, Victoria BC V8W 1Y2, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island.

Globally, it is in North America,

in the Inside Passage,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: First British Columbia School (here, next to this marker); The Bastion Cannons (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bastion (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Fort Victoria (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bank Building (within shouting distance of this marker); The Bell Tower (within shouting distance of this marker); Percy Leonard James (within shouting distance of this marker); Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.

Also see . . . Fort Victoria - Fortwiki. (Submitted on October 19, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Additional keywords. fur trade, Hudson's Bay Company

The Fort Victoria Marker is located to the left of the entrance, just beyond the column. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011

2. The Fort Victoria Marker is located to the left of the entrance, just beyond the column.

The light colored brick in the pavement outline the location of Fort Victoria. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011

3. The light colored brick in the pavement outline the location of Fort Victoria.

Brick Outline Marking the Location of the East Gate of the Fort. image. Click for full size.

July 2, 2011

4. Brick Outline Marking the Location of the East Gate of the Fort.

Hudson's Bay Company Seal image. Click for full size.

July 2, 2011

5. Hudson's Bay Company Seal

The marker indicates that in the nearby pavement are to be found plaques of the seals of the City of Victoria and the Crown Colony of the Island of Vancouver. Yet this one, also seen in the preceding picture, is the seal of the Hudson's Bay Company. The other seal-like objects in the preceding picture are actually manhole/utility covers of different sorts.

Fort Victoria, circa 1858 image. Click for full size.

July 2, 2011

6. Fort Victoria, circa 1858

This image of Fort Victoria, found within shouting distance of the marker, is mounted on a building on Fort Street.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,404 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 19, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 26, 2011. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.