Victoria is a picture-perfect city exuding old-world charm, with fragrant and colorful flowers everywhere.  Founded in 1843 by James Douglas of the Hudson Bay Company, it was first known as Fort Victoria.  By 1848, Vancouver Island was made a British crown colony and Victoria became its capital.  In 1858, Victoria was a tent city for those touched with gold fever and was the base for some 25,000 prospectors on their way to the Fraser River.  When Vancouver Island was incorporated with mainland British Columbia in 1868, Victoria was made the capital of the entire province.  Although it's a port city, Victoria is not as industrially-oriented as Vancouver.  The harbours, especially Inner Harbour, are dotted with pleasure craft, ferries, and floatplanes.  And the city is filled with beautiful gardens, charming houses, and a very British feeling.  No wonder Victoria attracts year-round visitors in search of leisure, pleasure, and beauty.