Atop the main dome of the Parliament Buildings and visible throughout Victoria’s Inner Harbour is a statue of Captain George Vancouver. This statue is covered in gold leaf (a very thin layer of gold) and was carved by Albert Franz Cizek during the construction of the Parliament Buildings.
Captain Vancouver led the 1790 British expedition to survey the western coast of North America from California to Alaska. In 1792, he met Spanish Admiral Quadra at Nootka Sound to resolve territorial conflicts with Spain. He is known for circumnavigating Vancouver Island and creating detailed maps that were used through to the twentieth century. Prior to becoming a captain, Vancouver served as a midshipman on Captain James Cook’s third expedition.
Another statue of Captain George Vancouver is located on the exterior of the Legislative Library.
