City of Vancouver, British Columbia

Reason for Building:

Centennial Project. In First Nation legend, the crab is the guardian of the harbour and it was also the zodiac sign at the time of the Canadian Centennial.

Additional Information:

It is a fountain sculpture and is made of many separate parts in the shape of a crab.

Apparently Tourism Vancouver has indicated that the Crab is the second most photographed man-made thing in Vancouver after the totem-poles. The museum uses the image for its marketing materials and in its gift shop.

The sculpture cost $20,000 and the fountain infrastructure cost $24,000. It was chosen over two other entries in a contest held by the women's sub-committee of the Vancouver Centennial Committee. $27,000 for the sculpture was raised through luncheons and fashion shows and a $20,000 grant was received from the Centennial Committee.

"The pieces of the sculpture were welded together by Gus Lidberg over a three-month period. The sculpture was barged down False Creek from Ellett Copper and Brass Co on W.2nd where it was built." (M.Jesen, V.Sun, Oct 3 1968)

Information Sources: David Ploufe, Public Programs Officer of the Vancouver Museum

Picture Source: David Ploufe, Public Programs Officer of the Vancouver Museum