Old Victoria Custom House in Victoria, B.C.

Completed in 1875, the Old Victoria Custom House is an early example of Canada's federal buildings constructed after Confederation. It was on the steps of this building that miners from around the world converged to obtain miners' licenses before embarking for the Klondike in 1898. Today, the Old Victoria Custom House is a National Historic Site of Canada and a lasting symbol of Victoria, British Columbia's early prominence as Canada's busiest port on the West Coast.