George Grant Mackay came to Vancouver in 1888 and purchased 6000 acres on either side of Capilano River. A year later he suspended a footbridge made of hemp rope and cedar planks across the canyon. Did you know that George:

1. was a civil engineer?
2. was called the "Father of the Okanagan"? In 1891 Mackay purchased and subdivided the Coldstream Ranch, sold the land parcels and established the city of Vernon.
3. was a City of Vancouver Park Commissioner, setting aside the land for Stanley Park as a recreational area?
4. was a Founder of The Vancouver Club?

August Jack Khahtsahlano helped build the first suspension bridge. Hemp ropes were dragged down the canyon and a team of horses swam the ropes across the river. The ropes were then pulled up the other side and anchored to huge buried cedar logs. Did you know that August Jack:

5. was 12 years old when he helped build the original Capilano Suspension Bridge?

Mackay subdivided and sold his property in 1892 to James Cooper Keith, Otto Semisch and Bruno Stelzer. In 1903 Semisch contracted William T. Farrell to construct a wire rope bridge. Engineer Harry Burgess drew the plans. Did you know that:

6. James Cooper Keith was manager of the Bank of British Columbia, the first bank in Vancouver?
7. Harry Burgess was a founder of the Vancouver Rowing Club?
8. William Farrell built the Tea House (now the Capilano Trading Post) in 1911 using cedar timbers stacked one on top of the other? There is enough wood to build eight Tea Houses!
9. a visit to the Bridge cost 10 cents?

Edward Mahon arrived in BC in 1888 and began mining in the Slocan Valley. He returned to Vancouver in the early 1900's and fell in love with Lilette Rebbeck. He purchased Capilano Suspension Bridge in 1910 so that Lilette's mother, Elizabeth, would manage the property, allowing Lilette to be nearer to him. Did you know that Edward:

10. was ordained as an Anglican Minister?
11. named the mining camp in the Slocan Valley Castlegar after his ancestral home in Ireland?
12. owned the Capilano Timber Co. and the 9 mile shingle bolt flume from Sisters Creek to the mouth of the Capilano River? He leased his logging operation to Japanese workers in spite of the Asian Exclusion League of 1907. In gratitude they built a log cabin on his land on the west side of Capilano River, known as "Spuraway" to West Vancouver residents.
13. cleared lots in what is now the Grand Boulevard area, intending the Boulevard to be like the Champs-Elysees in Paris? He imported perennials from the Orient to beautify the area. The 90 year old rhododenrons are still blooming there.
14. was a Founding Father of the City of North Vancouver?

Lilette Mahon married Edward Mahon in 1911 and moved to Vancouver. Did you know that Lilette:

15. was 19 when she married 48 year old Edward?
16. lived in a house where the Marine Building now stands?
17. was a water colour artist whose training began in Victoria when her mother, Elizabeth, convinced her neighbour Millie (Emily Carr) to give Saturday morning art lessons?
18. was a School Trustee for six years and Chairman of the Vancouver School Board in 1934? She was instrumental in establishing the Vancouver Art School.
19. ran for Alderman in the 1936 civic election?
20. was the first person in Vancouver to use a public address system - from the back of a truck when running for the "Reconstruction Party" (a short-lived branch of the Conservative Party) in the 1940 Federal election?

Elizabeth Rebbeck managed Capilano Suspension Bridge from 1911 to her death in 1934. An avid gardener, she planted many of the perennials still blooming in the Park. Did you know that Elizabeth:

21. was born in Angoulee, France, the daughter of Count and Countess d'Abbadie?
22. was educated in France, Germany and England and lived in French Indochina, where her family had extensive business interests?
23. published "The Home of the Dragon", a study of French Indochina and "The Stragglers" about pioneers coming to a new country?
24. entertained the Duchess of Connaught and Princess Patricia, the first royal guests to Capilano Suspension Bridge, in 1912?
25. opened the Tea House for only two days in 1917 due to poor business during the Great War?
26. had two goats named Maurice and Barletta?

Elizabeth was lonely after Lilette married, until she met Archibald Dunerik MacEachran ("Mac") who she married in 1921. In 1934, after Elizabeth's death, Mac purchased the Bridge. Did you know that Mac:

27. was a Royal Flying Corps Captain in Egypt during the Great War?
28. taught school?
29. was 30 years younger than Elizabeth?
30. advertised the Bridge as "the Eighth Wonder of the World!"?
31. invited Chief Mathias Joe to place his totem poles in the Park?
32. added a gas station to the Gate House?
33. provided food and lodging for Karl Hansen and Aage Madsen in exchange for their carving red cedar statues?
34. managed warehouses in Tahiti for rum-running friends during the Depression?
35. built a pre-fab log cabin in 1934, known formerly as the Hobbit House Restaurant and presently as the Bridge House Restaurant?

Bryan Mahon, the son of Lilette and Edward, spent many summers with his grandmother and Mac, who shared his love of flying. Did you know that Bryan:

36. established and flew in one of Vancouver's first air shows while in his teens?
37. enjoyed a life-long career as a test engineer for Boeing in Seattle?

Henri Aubeneau purchased the Bridge in 1945. He was a prominent land developer of the Sentinel Hill area in West Vancouver. Did you know that Henri:

38. served in the French Navy as a Chef and abandoned ship in Vancouver?
39. was a restaurateur well known for his London Grill and Le Restaurant Francais cafe?
40. tarred the red cedar statues carved in the '30's to preserve them?
41. employed no one at the entrance gate except in July and August? He and his wife, Younette, watched for visitors from their living room window on the opposite side of the road and let them into the Park themselves.

Rae Mitchell purchased the Bridge from Aubeneau in 1953. Unsure of the bridge's cable strength, he rebuilt it completely in 1956. Did you know that Rae:

42. charged 25 cents a visit in 1953?
43. built the new bridge in five days using wire cables pre-stressed to 100,000 pounds? When he tested the old cables' strength, they wouldn't break at 100,000 pounds!
44. used the Tea House during the winter as a banquet facility called the Thunderbird Room? In the summer months he used it to sell gifts and souvenirs.
45. said, "It's hard to say which swayed more - my bridge or Marilyn" after Monroe's visit in 1954?
46. lost 82 trees in the Park during 1962's Hurricane Freda? Eight trees fell onto the Bridge.
47. hired Aage Madsen to carve the black tar off the red cedar statues?
48. bought two donkeys? They lived in the Park from 1964 - 1986.
49. bought and subdivided 160 acres in North Vancouver, an area now called Blueridge?
50. owned Oscar's Steak House, the popular show-biz haunt of the '50's and '60's?

For further media facts on Capilano Suspension Bridge, please contact:

Stacy Chala
Communications Manager
media@capbridge.com

604.985.7474