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

Helmcken House Historic Site

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011

1. Helmcken House Historic Site Marker

Inscription. John Sebastian Helmcken arrived in Fort Victoria in 1850 to work as a physician for the Hudson’s Bay Company.
He remained here for the rest of his life, marrying Cecilia Douglas, the eldest daughter of Governor James Douglas. The young couple has a small log cabin built here in 1852, next to their in-laws home. Over the years as the family grew the house also grew larger. It is one of the oldest housed in western Canada.

Dr. Helmcken practiced medicine during the fur trade, the gold rush and the colonial era; he helped create its modern, professional form in British Columbia. As a politician he served in the first Legislative Assembly of Vancouver Island in 1856 as the first Speaker. Initially an opponent of Confederation, he went with the Ottawa delegation in 1870 to negotiate the terms by which British Columbia would join Canada. After this, he retired from politics and returned to medicine and his family. He lived in this house until his death in 1920. In 1939, the family transferred this house and Dr. Helmcken’s memoirs to the provincial government.

[Photo caption]
Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, c. 1854. RBCM BCA A-01356

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 48° 25.182′

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N, 123° 22.028′ W. Marker is in Victoria, British Columbia, in Capital. It is in James Bay. It can be reached from Douglas Street near Belleville Street. This marker is located in Thunderbird Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 680 Douglas Street, Victoria BC V8V 2P8, 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: The Old Man’s Garden (a few steps from this marker); Cecilia Helmcken (within shouting distance of this marker); Log Cabin to Victorian Parlour (within shouting distance of this marker); Doctor John Sebastian Helmcken (within shouting distance of this marker); Elliot Street Square (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr John Sebastian Helmcken (within shouting distance of this marker); The Children’s Graves (within shouting distance of this marker); The Sisters of St. Ann (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.

Also see . . . John Sebastian Helmcken. (Submitted on October 25, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

The Helmcken House image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011

2. The Helmcken House

The marker is on the foreground

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 25, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 978 times since then and 25 times this year. Last updated on August 11, 2016, by Adrienne Walker of Victoria, British Columbia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 25, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.