Park Site
The historic buildings at Britannia tell the story
of early Steveston residential conditions and
interpret the history of wooden boat building
and repair on the waterfront.
The Shipyard
The Britannia Shipyard building began its life as a Cannery. It was built in 1889 and was purchased by the ABC Packing Company two years later to operate as a salmon cannery. However, the Hell's Gate Landslide of 1912 caused a significant decline in salmon stocks, forcing many canneries to close or convert to other uses. In 1917-18, the Britannia Cannery was converted into a shipyard and general maritime repair shop for fishing boats of the ABC Packing Company, which operated until 1969. The Shipyard was then purchased by the Canadian Fishing Company and was operational until BC Packers purchased it in 1979, closing its doors in 1979-80.
The Boardwalk
The original boardwalk served as a main street for the Steveston waterfront. Workers, cyclists, school children, and supply carts shared the narrow boardwalk built on piles above the marsh. During winter months, the boardwalk was often awash from high tides.
Murakami House
The house was built in 1885 on piles over the marsh. The Murakami family - ten children, mom and dad, lived in the residence from the early 1929 to 1942. The refurbished home and boat works opened in May 1998 as the official Murakami Visitor Centre. The Murakami family has provided valuable information and artefacts enabling us to share their story.
Murakami Boat Works
It was literally only a step from home to boat works. The family built 1-2 gillnet fishing boats per winter and fished in the summer. At launching time, temporary tracks were placed over the boardwalk to roll the boat out. A hand-operated capstan moved the cradle on these tracks that are called "the ways".
Stilt Houses
These four homes were built in the 1800's
as fisherman's dwellings. John Murchison,
Steveston's first police chief and customs
officer, purchased the Murchison Houses
in 1895.
Chinese Bunk House
This is the last surviving Chinese Bunk House on the Coast. The Building was originally located in Knight Inlet, and was relocated here by BC Packers.
Japanese Duplex
This building was once part of a complex of 16 buildings used by Japanese workers at the Phoenix Cannery. The Duplex contains two living areas with net making and storage upstairs. Constructed in the 1890's, it is the last building of its kind on the Steveston waterfront. In the 1940's, metal cladding was added over wood siding. Japanese newspapers used as wall coverings are still visible inside.
First Peoples Bunk House
Built in 1885 to house native cannery workers, the First Peoples Bunk House is similar to traditional 19th century Coast Salish Longhouses. The board and batten fir siding is secured with hand made nails. It is probably the last cannery dwelling of its type on the coast..
Richmond Boat Builders
Saeji Kishi and his employees constructed the boat works on piles above the marsh in 1932. The boat works was designed to accommodate up to four 30-foot fishing boats at one time. Gillnet fishing boats, 24' and 26' in length, with drums and Easthope engines, were the main product of the shop. In winter, boats were sidetracked on wooden beams in front of the boat works. The Kishis lost their boat works in the W.W. II internment. They later built boats at Christina Lake and shipped them to the coast by rail. This boat works remained in operation until 1968. The last boat built in this shop was the Silver Ann, which is currently being restored in the same spot in which it was created.
The Environment
The site was originally a treeless marsh however, the vegetation changed significantly in the 1950’s when the 
marsh was filled in with sand dredged from the Steveston Channel. Now, the iner-tidal zone marsh is an important fish habitat and is a protected area for migratory birds and our family of swans.
Shady Island across the channel was once a small sandbar that provided only minimal protection from storms. The wooden bulkhead (vertical planks) was built in the 1930's to protect the dyke from storm wave erosion. Park of the original dyke can be seen in front of the Britannia shipyard building and large stones can be seen in the marshes. Some of these ballast stones are from early schooners and clippers.
