The rocket ship at the southwest end of the Cambie Street Bridge is a replica of one built in 1938 for the annual PNE parade.
Story from Vancouver Exposed: Searching for the City’s Hidden History
Cambie Street Bridge:
Have you ever wondered why there is a snazzy-looking rocket ship at the southwest end of the Cambie Street Bridge? It was built for Expo 86, then shifted by helicopter to its current site after the fair ended. It’s actually a replica of a rocket ship that was designed by Lew Parry and built for the Sheet Metal Workers Local 280 as a float in the 1938 PNE parade.
After Vancouver Exposed came out last Fall, Paul Hancock sent me a photo that his uncle had taken of the PNE parade (above). Thanks to Tom Carter for pinpointing the location at the northeast corner of Georgia Street looking down Howe Street.
Built by Sheet Metal Workers:
According to a story in the Province dated August 25, 1938j, the original rocket ship was built through the efforts of 50 members of the Sheet Metal Workers’ International Association in several city shops. It weighed “half a ton, is 18 feet long, 13 feet high and nine feet wide and made of tin, iron and copper.”
The float was awarded the grand prize. Lew Parry, who became a highly regarded film producer, also designed a float for the Sheet Metal Workers’ in 1936 called “The Modern Aim,” which also won the grand prize at the PNE that year.
VIA:
The original streamlined rocket ship sat at the Vancouver Air Terminal until 1972, when its rusting frame was thrown into the landfill. The replica was made using old photos of the original and advice from Parry, who turned 80 as Vancouver celebrated its centennial.
This replica is made of hardier stuff than its predecessor—stainless steel and brass which will hopefully see it through another 100 years.
You might also want to make a note on your calendar that a Centennial Time Capsule buried at the base of the rocket, is scheduled to be dug up and opened in 2036. According to the CoV website “it includes items such as an Expo 86 passport with stamps of all the pavilions and recorded messages from local celebrities and many other things.”
With thanks to Donna Sacuta of the BC Labour Heritage Centre
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17 comments on “The Cambie Street Rocket Ship”
According to 1938 newspaper reports, the original rocket construction represented the work of 50 men, working at night for over a week, building parts in several city shops. The Sheet Metal Workers International Association float carried the half-ton, 18 foot-long tin, copper and iron rocket in the PNE parade that year where it won grand prize. The union built the replica in 1985. https://www.facebook.com/LabourHistoryInBC/posts/1065531433632845
Donna is quite right, and her comment yesterday led to a flurry of research (mainly from Donna), and adjustment to the date in my blog and a future blog that will talk about the float that was also designed by Lew Parry and also won the grand prize at the PNE in 1936, but was not the rocket ship. If anyone has more information about his 1936 float which I assume was built for Vancouver’s 50th birthday please bring it on!
I too did a bunch of research on the rocket ship (and also concluded that it was actually from 1938); Ifound the float that won the Sheet Metal Workers the grand prize in the 1936 Jubilee year “Canada (or Canadian, sources vary) Pacific Exhibition” parade.
It wasn’t a rocket ship, it was a depiction of a marksman on one knee with a bow and arrow, entitled “The Modern Aim”.
Vancouver Sun and Province, August 26/27 1936. https://imgur.com/a/llBihE9
Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find any photos of “The Modern Aim”.
Its getting harder to find bits of EXPO 86 memorabilia. Some green and red metal benches with expo 86 cement blocks at either end can be found at Cultus Lake. May of the pavilions can be found in Deltas Tilbury Industrial Park. I wondered where I read about the rocket ship then it dawned on me Vancouver Exposed sits on our coffee table
It makes me happy to hear that Vancouver Exposed is on your coffee table Doug!
Add me to that distinguished list…
Excellent!
I have seen a couple of pavilions in New West at some paper manufacturer (I think) along side the Fraser River, visible from Stewartson Way…
Our Dad, Dave Kelman worked on the original rocket ship. He was invited to the ceremony at the foot of Cambie street bridge in 1986 when the new one was placed there.
That’s amazing! Do you have any idea if he might also have worked on the float for 1936? It was also designed by Lew Parry and called Modern Aim?
Hi Eve! Always glad to see people reminded about Lew Parry’s contributions. Did you know that he also designed the original art deco sculpture of Diana the huntress on the Vogue Theatre sign fin. (The current one is an inferior replica.) I enjoy your contributions very much.
I did not know that! I wrote about the Vogue and Diana in Sensational Vancouver, but only that Bud Graves made it, nothing about the designer. I think I have to do a blog on Lew Parry he sounds fascinating. Thanks so much for your kind words!
Eve, I am very grateful for all your articles and knowledge of our shared history. I`ve learned a lot from you!
Thanks so much Eric!
[…] that traversed Georgia, Granville and Hastings Streets—was in 1995. Pictured in 1938 is the Sheet Metal Workers Local 280 rocket on a float. A replica is on permanent display at the south end of the Cambie Street […]
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