Looking southeast from University Ave towards Front St W in the Entertainment District of Toronto.
The archive photo shows a glimpse of the Walker House on the left, the Swiss Bear Lounge, and a parking garage on the right.
The round parking garage was initially Toronto’s Cyclorama, which opened in 1887. This unique attraction featured panoramic paintings depicting historical events or battle scenes within the cylindrical space, providing spectators with a 360-degree view. The Cyclorama was short-lived and closed permanently by 1900. After its closure, the building was used as a showroom before being converted into a parking garage. In 1976, despite their historical significance, both the Cyclorama and the Walker House—a hotel that had been at the corner for 103 years—were demolished.
Since 1983, the 20-storey office tower known as Citigroup Place has occupied the site.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Sep 14, 1887, pg 10
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Oct 20, 1976, pg 39
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: City of Toronto Archives
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory, courtesy of Toronto Public Library
