Downtown in Victoria in Capital, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)
Empress Hotel
L’Hotel Empress
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2011
1. Empress Hotel Marker
[English]
This hotel was built between 1904 and 1908, and has since been enlarged twice. The architect, Francis M. Rattenbury, followed the practice of the Canadian Pacific Railway in employing the Chateau style, identifiable by the steep slate roof and Gothic Revival gables. Rattenbury modified this style using a symmetrical plan and flanking pavilions which give a strong vertical emphasis to the design. These elements make the Empress Hotel an important transitional building in the development of the Chateau style, which emerged as the distinctively Canadian approach to railway hotel buildings.
[French]
Érigé entre 1904 et 1908 pour le Canadien Pacifique, cet hôtel fut agrandi à deux reprises. L’architecte Francis M. Rattenbury conçut un hôtel de style Château, caractérisé par un toit en ardoise à pente aiguë et des gables néo-gothiques. Il innova toutefois en modifiant le style dans le sens de la symétrie et de la verticalitéa qu’il accentua par des pavillons latéraux. Ces modifications font de l’hôtel Empress un édifice de transition dans l’évolution du style Château, qui deviendra caractéristique des hôtels appartenant aux compagnies de chemins de fer canadiens.
Erected by Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada/Commission des lieux et monuments historiques du Canada
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1904.
Location. 48° 25.305′ N, 123° 22.102′ W. Marker is in Victoria, British Columbia, in Capital. It is in Downtown. Marker is on Government Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 721 Government Street, Victoria BC V8W 1W5, Canada. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Parade of Ships (within shouting distance of this marker); Capt. James Cook, R.N. (within shouting distance of this marker); Arbutus Tree (Arbutus menziesii) (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Royal Canadian Navy (about 90 meters away); Fort Victoria (about 90 meters away); Tsukuba (about 120 meters away); Emily Carr (about 120 meters away); Kwakiutl Bear Pole (about 120 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Victoria.
Also see . . . The Empress (hotel) - Wikipedia. (Submitted on November 6, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2011
2. Empress Hotel Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2011
3. The Empress Hotel
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 602 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
