British Columbia's historic places - buildings, other structures, landscapes, historic districts, and other places — are crucial to the understanding, appreciation, and sustainability of BC communities.
From annual heritage tours to the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, heritage villages to countless community museums throughout the province, British Columbia's history is well-preserved.
Celebrate Vernon's heritage by taking a self-guided mural walk. With the Downtown full of historic faces and scenes, mural tours are a wonderful way to truly enjoy the masterpieces of our past. For more information or to receive your own self-guided mural brochure contact the Downtown Vernon Association.
The history of the South Okanagan - Similkameen can be found in four unique communities which offer you a chance to experience the days of old. Neighbouring Summerland and Penticton at the southern end of Okanagan Lake, Okanagan Falls which takes its place at the southern end of Skaha Lake, Oliver a little further south on Highway 97. These thriving agricultural and tourism based communities offer you a chance to discover their past during a leisurely tour of six heritage attractions.
Museums & Heritage Sites
Kilby Historic Site
215 Kilby Rd
Harrison Mills BC V0M 1L0
604.796.9576
Cell Crafts
Fax 604.796.9592
Located near the junction of the Harrison and Fraser Rivers, the Kilby Historic Site stands as the only reminder of the once thriving community of Harrison Mills, British Columbia, Canada.
Step back in time and enjoy a leisurely tour of the Kilby Historic Site with its magnificent 1906 General Store Museum. Visitors will view a fascinating gallery of product packaging dating back to the 1920s and 1930s. Don't miss the intriguing artifacts in the heritage Post Office and Manchester House Hotel; both were an integral part of the Harrison Mills community at the turn of the twentieth century.
Discover unique histories while shopping on main street, hiking an old wagon
road, dining in Chinatown or exploring down by the docks.
Heritage is everywhere and in every town - just look around!
And for a sure bet in finding a special experience visit one of British Columbia's Provincial Historic Sites: <br/>
The First Nations of British Columbia, Canada welcome you!
British Columbia has known the footsteps of Aboriginal people from time immemorial. We are the indigenous peoples of this land whose traditions and culture remain strong, rich and diverse and whose life has been shaped by the land, oceans, climate and creatures within.
Our land is British Columbia. A vast beautiful landscape that is as diverse as its people. From the rocky shoreline carved by the ocean to the peaks of the highest mountains and the beautiful plains of the interiorthis is our home.
Here in BC you can watch native artists carve a totem pole, explore our traditional lands and waters with an Aboriginal guide, experience a traditional First Nations healing and purification lodge with a native elder, view exquisite Pacific Northwest native art in art galleries, cultural centers and museums, sample traditional foods and award-winning wines, relax in native-owned resorts, campgrounds, log cabins and bed & breakfast inns and even enjoy a round of golf on a native-owned championship golf course!
The Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia (ATBC) and its members invite you to travel to British Columbia this year to experience our rich First Nations culture, traditions and warm hospitality.
Look for "ACCEPTED HERE" GO Card decals for ADMISSION DISCOUNTS at participating BC museums, art galleeries & other program partners.
The BCMA is the cultural information
hub for British Columbia, providing a
unified voice for the institutions, trustees,
professional staff and volunteers of the
BC museum and gallery community.
Stay informed of BC's cultural heritage,
past, present and future.
Once the largest city west of Chicago and north of San Francisco, Barkerville is now BC's largest heritage site, boasting more than 135 heritage buildings and displays, chronicling the Cariboo gold rush. A living museum with period gift shops, Heritage B&B;'s, live theatre, gold panning, dining and stage coach rides. You will treasure the experience! Interpretive Programs
Richfield Courthouse
Cornish Waterwheel
St. Saviour's Church
Blacksmith's Shop
Wendle House
Schoolhouse
Main Street
Chinatown
Operating Businesses
Stagecoach Rides
Bed & Breakfasts
Theatre Royal
Gold Panning
Restaurants
Gift Shops
BC's largest pioneer collection, featuring vintage tractors & farming equipment as well as a library, historical photos and much more. Check out the website for admission prices, and upcoming Events including special displays and family-friendly activities.
Open 10am-4:30pm, 7 days a week from April 1 to Thanksgiving Monday in October.
Let one of our historic trains take you on a tour around our 100-acre wooded site!
At the BC Forest Discovery Centre, a stroll around the grounds will quickly transform one into an exciting, educational experience. With many exhibits for the whole family, there is always something new to explore.
We're one of the most "eventful" museums in BC!
Thousands enjoy the diverse special activities and exhibits at the many events during our 6-month season. See live eagles, try out kids' logging activities, face-painting, wagon rides, crafts, scavenger hunts and more and more and more!
Museums & Heritage Sites
Britannia Mine Museum
Britannia Beach BC
1.800.896.4044; 604.896.2233
www.bcmm.ca
The Britannia Mine Museum has unveiled its newly transformed visitor attraction and has been revitalized with a major $14.7-million redevelopment. Located along the Sea-to-Sky highway, the museum offers fun family entertainment and engagement about mining, local arts and culture. The ever popular underground mine and gold panning will thrill adventure seekers of all ages.
Top 10
Ride a train deep inside a real mining tunnel
Explore underground in a real mine
Pan for REAL gold
Explore modern and interactive exhibits
View rare and unique gems
Explore the new Kids Play Area
Ignite a dynamite "explosion"
Step inside the historic 20-story Mill
Climb the Super Haul truck
Enjoy an entertaining movie in the Museum theatre
Museums & Heritage Sites
Britannia Shipyard - National Historic Site
5180 Westwater Drive
Richmond BC V7E 6P3
604.718.8050
Fax 604.718.8040
Britannia Heritage Shipyard is a rare surviving example of a once thriving mixture of canneries, boatyards and residences. It is an eight acre National Historic Site with some of the oldest remaining heritage buildings found along the Fraser River.
Museums & Heritage Sites
BC Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop
1304 Ellis St.
Kelowna BC V1Y 1Z8
250.868.0441
Fax 250.868.9272
Explore the history and passion of BC's wine industry at the BC Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop located inside the historic Laurel Packinghouse. Representing over 60 wineries across the province and over 400 BC VQA wines to choose from - free daily wine tastings to sample a selection of award-winning wines!
Admission by donation.
Museums & Heritage Sites
Bulkley Valley (BV) Museum
1425 Main Street
Smithers BC
250-847-5322
The Bulkley Valley Museum concentrates story of the Bulkley Valley communities, the construction of the railroad, and the effects on the agricultural and forest industries in the area.
Burnaby Village Museum & Carousel Offers Complimentary Gate Admission for 2013 Season! Gate admission is on us
Experience Heritage — Stroll down the streets of a 1920s village exploring at your own pace. The village is a combination of heritage and replica buildings on a 10-acre site. Period costumed townsfolk welcome visitors and give demonstrations in the homes, businesses and shops. Popular stops include the blacksmith, the print shop, the garden at the farmhouse and the General Store.
"Our Window to the Past"
The Chilliwack Museum is located in downtown Chilliwack. Exhibit galleries show how a community of small villages evolved to become a city. Videos, films, a kid's corner and objects are used to tell the Chilliwack story. The Chambers Gallery features changing art displays of local and B.C. artists.
1915 CN Station relocated to the corner of Mavis and Glover in Fort Langley and refurbished from 1983-1985 - designed by the Great Northern RR it was bought by the CNR in l918.
Today it houses the Fort Langley Artists Group, F.L.A.G. in the baggage room and has a small museum in the ticket office and waiting room. The 'site' also has a l920's Caboose with original furnishings and with a well equipped working model RR. It is manned by summer students for July and August and by "site" volunteers for May, June, Sept and October (until Thanksgiving).Summer & Fall Weekends from 12 to 4p.m.
Museums & Heritage Sites
Craigflower Manor And Schoolhouse National Historic Site
May 0 to Sep 0, Daily, 11 am to 5 pm Also open during Holidays
Craigflower Farm was established on land purchased in 1850 from the chiefs of the Kosapsom people, who had lived in the area for millennia. The farm was one of four original farms set up by the Hudson's Bay Company as part of their obligations in settling Vancouver Island.
Cottonwood House Historic Site is located 26 kilometres east of Quesnel, BC. It is a preserved road house on the Gold Rush Trail to Barkerville Historic Town.
Museums & Heritage Sites
District of Mission
34033 Lougheed Hwy
Mission BC V2V 5X8
604-820-3789
www.mission.ca
The District of Mission is located approximately 1 hour east of Vancouver. Situated on the mighty Fraser River the community offers breathtaking views of the scenic Fraser Valley.
With two National Historical sites, Xaytem Longhouse Interpretive Centre and the Power House at Stave Falls, Mission offers a truly unique and diverse cultural experience.
Museums & Heritage Sites
Emily Carr House
207 Government Street
Victoria BC V8V 2K3
250.383.5843
www.emilycarr.com
Visit the home of the Canadian legend, Emily Carr, one of our first and best known artists and authors. Her birthplace has been restored to reflect its appearance in the 1870s and features contemporary art shows.
Centrally located only four blocks from the Inner Harbour and the Provincial Legislature, the house offers its visitors a chance to gain an insight into Canada's first - and best known - independent artist and writer.
Museums & Heritage Sites
Enderby & District Museum
901 George Street (Hwy 97A)
Enderby BC V0E 1V0
(250) 838-7170
Winter: Tuesday — Saturday, 12 noon to 4 p.m. Summer: Tuesday — Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Take a look at the area’s colourful past through changing and permanent displays. Try your hand at making rope or grinding wheat. Explore the human and natural history of the area, with an emphasis on farming and forestry, Shuswap First Nations, entertainment and transportation on the Shuswap River.
Surround yourself with the extraordinary, the historical, the amazing, the past and the future at The Exploration Place, Prince George’s number one adventure spot for the entire family!
It’s a strictly hands-on experience where children and adults can touch, feel and thoroughly learn about a diverse range of subjects. Innovative exhibits allow visitors to explore the last days of the Titanic, learn about Canada’s Indian Residential Schools, the prison system and the evolution of the motorcycle.
Open 10-5, daily year round (closed December 25, 26 and January 1)
Explore Fort Langleyfirst built in 1827. Hear stories from our costumed interpreters; watch the blacksmith bend steel; help the cooper shape a barrel; and pan for gold. Enjoy cultural experiences year round at the site where British Columbia was first proclaimed a colony in 1858. Visit the First Nations Gift Shop and enjoy refreshments in our Full Barrel Cafe.
The Greater Vernon Museum and Archives presents the history of the North Okanagan through streetscapes, dioramas and changing exhibits. Highlights include the Allan Brooks Gallery, military displays and aboriginal history. An extensive archives & research facility is on site along with a gift shop.