McBarge

McBarge is a floating restaurant, originally constructed for the 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or Expo '86, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The official name of the vessel is the Friendship 500, but it is more commonly known as the McBarge after its first tenant, McDonald's.

History

The McBarge was one of five floating McDonald's restaurants built for Expo '86. The theme of the exposition was "Transportation and Communication: World in Motion - World in Touch", tying in with Vancouver's centennial year. The McBarge was designed to showcase future technology and architecture, with features such as automated heating and cooling systems, and a conveyor belt system to deliver food.

After the exposition ended, the McBarge was left abandoned for several years. It was briefly used as a training facility for the navy, but was otherwise left unused. In 2009, the McBarge was moved to Burrard Inlet, where it remains today.

Future Plans

In 2010, the owner of the McBarge, Howard Meakin, announced plans to restore the vessel and turn it into a maritime museum. However, these plans have yet to come to fruition. Despite its current state of disrepair, the McBarge remains a popular topic of conversation and a symbol of Expo '86.

See Also

• Expo '86
• McDonald's
• Burrard Inlet