aeeble

In the early days, the Tamsui River was deep enough to accommodate large vessels, making it a crucial port area after Tamsui was opened as a treaty port. Among the top five foreign firms in Tamsui at that time were Tait & Co., Boyd & Co., Elles & Co., Douglas Lapraik & Co., and Pao Shun. Notably, besides the usual trading functions, Douglas Lapraik & Co. specialized in shipping, monopolizing Taiwan’s shipping routes for thirty years. It witnessed the thriving development of Tamsui after the port opened; for instance, Dr. George Leslie Mackay arrived aboard the SS Dragon, a vessel owned by Douglas Lapraik & Co. Since 2023, it has served as an exhibition venue for the Tamsui Heritage Mini-Museum.