Gastown is the area where Vancouver was founded in 1867. It is now situated east of the main downtown area, near Chinatown. It was originally called Gassy's after the saloon proprietor Gassy Jack Deighton. After being rebuilt from the fire in 1886 the village was renamed to Gastown.
Today, the renovated Gastown, with its cobbled streets and restored Victorian buildings, is a pleasant place for shooting up, shoplifting or mugging. It also contains dozens of eager pan handlers that await any change you might have in your pockets. The main tourist attractions in Gastown are the unique steam clock and the statue of 'Gassy Jack' Deighton. The Gastown Steam Clock was the world's first steam clock and was originally built to cover a steam vent. The 2 ton weighing oddly looking clock whistles every 15 minutes. In the evening you might hear more gun shots than clock whistles but don’t let that alarm you it’s a safe neighborhood.
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