Capilano (aka First Narrows)  - Automated
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Latitude 49 19 09.1N, Longitude 123 08 46.7W List of Lights #394
Established: May 27, 1913 Automated: June 1946
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Please note, clicking on the lighthouse name takes you to a map showing the location
Clicking on the Google Earth symbol , opens GE and takes you to the location
Clicking on a photo takes you to a larger version of the photo.
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In the early 1900s when ships were entering or leaving Vancouver Harbour at night they would stay quite close to the Prospect Point side of the harbour because of the shallows and sand bars originating from the Capilano river.
After many complaints by large ship owners, a fourth light was erected at the entrance to Vancouver harbour - Point Atkinson (1875), Prospect Point (1888), Brockton (1890), and now Capilano was put in operation on the shoals on May 27, 1913.
Prior to that date (as early as 1890 some records say), various unwatched lights were established on the shoals at the mouth of the river. Most were attended by men from shore who would row over to light or extinguish the lamps.
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"Date of photo, likely June 26, 1923, near noon. That is the only time the tide is low enough for him to have been in this position to take the photo. He would have had to row over, as the river would have been treacherous to wade across, particularly with camera..." - Dudley Booth commenting on above Cyril R. Littlebury photo
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SS "Prince Rupert" c. 1920s
Note Capilano off the bow (right)
(Prospect Point on the left)
Photo by Cyril R. Littlebury
from Dudley Booth Collection
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SS "Empress of Japan" c. 1920s
Passing Capilano Lighthouse
(just over the stern funnel)
Photo by Cyril R. Littlebury
from Dudley Booth Collection
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The two ship photos above are some of many taken by Cyril R. Littlebury (1898 - 1936) during the period 1922 - 1933 in Vancouver. The negatives are in possession of Dudley Booth who has put many on display here at the Historic Photos website.
I begged Dudley for an enlargement of the second photo (above) which would show Capilano Lighthouse more clearly. He obliged with the excellent result below. Not bad for an eighty-five (85) year old negative!
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Capilano Lighthouse c. 1920s
Capilano river exiting from the right
Photo by Cyril R. Littlebury
from Dudley Booth Collection
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The light was electrified and destaffed in June 1946 but continued in use as an unwatched light. In February 1969 the fifth-order Fresnel lens was removed and the structure was burnt down by the Department and replaced with a light on a concrete tower. The name "First Narrows" was also adopted in the List of Lights.
I guess after 30 years of use the concrete beacon was replaced, because the photos below seem to show the light sitting on a four-pile wood dolphin.
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First Narrows light 2006
Capilano river exiting from the right
Photo from kumakid Flickr website
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First Narrows light 2006
North Vancouver in the background
Photo from traceylikesyou Flickr website
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Below is a photo taken from the mouth of the Capilano River showing Prospect Point today and the the possible view from the old Capilano lighthouse. Beside it is a Google Earth map showing the exact location of the three lighthouses in Vancouver harbour.
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Prospect Point 2006
From mouth of Capilano river
Notice - no signal station
Photo from
Glamorous_Life Flickr page.
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Google Earth map
Showing Vancouver harbour lights
Photo from
Google Earth printout.
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In this 360° view you can see Prospect Point off the right-hand side of the bridge.
As the scene sweeps across the harbour, The sandbanks of the Capilano River come into view
with the dolphin visible in deeper water.
(Zoom in using Shift, and out with Ctrl key; Pause by clicking on photo)
For a full-screen and more-detailed view please go to the website.
| Keepers |
| Alex M. Rood | PLK (1911-1913) | unwatched light |
| George Alfred Harris | PLK (1913-1925) | died on station |
| Elizabeth Harris | PLK (1925-1925) | wife of deceased A. Harris |
| Alfred Dickenson | PLK (1925 - 1946) | |
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