Victoria, British Columbia is known as the city of gardens. Among the most famous and beautiful is the Crystal Garden, a name that brings to mind a fairy tale. A place of beauty and joy that brought life and color to the world through the twentieth century. For the people of Victoria, BC, that was exactly what the world famous Crystal Garden did. The structure, which was opened in 1925, has been a community hub and recreational center for the city ever since. Now a protected historic site, at the height of its glory, the conservatory served thousands of people, serving as a true community centre that brought all levels of society together in the same elegant space. During its construction, the Victoria Daily Times newspaper commented “the palace, which stands on the corner of Douglas and Belleville Street, to-day is a realization of Victoria’s most optimistic dream.”Built in the early part of the century, the conservatory was designed by Frances Rattenbury and P. Leonard James to reflect not only modern industrial influences but also to incorporate the classical sensibilities of Greek and Roman architecture. The Crystal Garden was modeled after other “glass palaces” of the era, including The Palm House and the Crystal Palace in England and the Palm Court of Victoria’s Empire Hotel. When initial design estimate exceeded the budget, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) stepped up to help cover the costs. This, in turn, led to CPR running the center by special arrangement until 1964.