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Museums & Heritage Sites

BC's museums and heritage sites provide a window into the foundation of a dynamic cultural landscape built into the natural surroundings of communities in every region. British Columbia's vibrant history can be experienced in a variety of places, from the UNESCO heritage site in the Haida Gwaii, to the the gold rush town of Barkerville and refurbished fort communities hosting reenactment experiences, to local community museums housing cherished stories and artifacts, to large scale museums with elaborate displays of ancient origins. Unique industry museums pay homage to the lived experience of generations past while restored homes of prominent historical figures provide an intimate look at daily life in early BC history.  Wherever you decide to explore in this province, take the time to unearth the roots of each of BC's creative communities.

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Audain Art Museum

Whistler
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Established in 2016, the Audain Art Museum is a leading arts organization founded upon the major philanthropic gift of Michael Audain and Yoshiko Karasawa. Located in Whistler, British Columbia and designed by the internationally-renowned firm Patkau Architects, the AAM boasts a comprehensive Permanent Collection of the province’s most celebrated artists. Exemplifying the richness of cultural difference in Canada, the collection Read more...
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Barkerville Historic Town & Park

Barkerville
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It’s 1862. You are hand-digging through layers of soggy, worthless, frustrating gravel, hoping and praying the next shovel-stroke will expose a fortune in gold. Everyone says it’s crazy, but there’s too much at stake. Then, just when the outcome seems impossibly bleak, at a depth of 52 feet the ground begins to pay. The lead is struck, and the greatest Read more...
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Branscombe House

Richmond
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Branscombe House is located at 4900 Steveston Highway and is one of the earliest homes built in the area; as such it is significant for its historical association to Steveston and for reflecting the pattern of commercial and related residential development that occurred in Steveston’s early history. The Branscombe House Artist-in-Residence is selected annually via an Open Call. Read more...
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Britannia Mine Museum

Britannia Beach
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Rumble aboard The Underground train as it rolls through an historic mining tunnel. Push up your sleeves at our Gold Panning Pavilion and keep what you find! Immerse yourself in the live-action, multi-sensory experience of BOOM! on the breathtaking ground level of the historic Mill No.3 building. Learn about minerals, the copper extraction process and what life was like back Read more...
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Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site

Richmond
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Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site is an authentic representation of a once-thriving community of canneries, boat yards, and residences. City of Richmond staff and dedicated volunteers work together to preserve and restore the shipyard and surrounding buildings as an active wooden boat centre and waterfront park. Tour the oldest shipyard buildings in British Columbia, you experience the history of fishing Read more...
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Bulkley Valley Museum

Smithers
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Explore the natural and human history of Smithers and the surrounding area at the Bulkley Valley Museum! Located in the historic Central Park Building, the Museum features engaging and informative temporary and permanent displays on local history and culture, including Witsuwit’en history, Driftwood Canyon fossils, the mysterious story of the first “Broken Arrow”, and the Bulkley Valley’s “gift to civilization” Read more...
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CAETANI CENTRE: Where History, Arts and Culture Meet

Vernon
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TOURS: Explore the secrets and rumours of this 126-year-old heritage house with a fascinating and disturbing history. A distinguished aristocrat and scholar from an ancient royal Italian family dating back over a thousand years… The beautiful young mother… Their creative and talented daughter held a prisoner in her own home for over 25 years. Is it haunted? You be the judge! Join Read more...
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Greater Vernon Museum

Vernon
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With a convenient location just blocks from 30th Avenue, the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives is an ideal place to begin your discovery of Vernon’s past and present. Explore local flora and fauna in the Natural History section, before taking a swim or hike in the Okanagan’s beautiful outdoors. Tour Vernon’s 28 full-sized murals, after learning the stories behind the Read more...
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Haida Gwaii Museum at Kay Llangaay

Skidegate
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The Museum offers a fascinating look into Haida Gwaii culture from diverse perspectives that explores; Haida knowledge, scientific information, natural specimens, oral history and art all blend together in a fluid and constantly changing exhibit context. We work collaboratively with communities and organizations to provide an inspiring and holistic learning experience of all things Haida Gwaii. The Haida Gwai Museum Read more...
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Historic Hat Creek Ranch

Cache Creek
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Explore life in the Gold Rush! Historic Hat Creek in Beautiful British Columbia is one of the few sections of the original Caribou wagon road still accessible to the public. Come stay with us, and enjoy some of our era specific experiences and activities. We are open from May 1st to Sept 30th. Historic Hat Creek Ranch is a Province of Read more...
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Historic O’Keefe Ranch

Vernon
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Experience O’Keefe Ranch You’ll love travelling back in time with us! Over 150 years ago, O’Keefe Ranch was its own small community with a post office, blacksmith shop, general store, and church. Today, visitors can meet our friendly farm animals, view our annual museum exhibitions, take a tour of the O’Keefe Mansion, and buy candy in the General Store. Come Read more...
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Kamloops Museum and Archives

Kamloops
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WELCOME TO THE KAMLOOPS MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES! The KMA’s permanent exhibitions consistently evolve to inclusively showcase Kamloops’ culture through the voices of its many communities. Current issues, events, and ideas are explored in our temporary display gallery, bringing rigorous and relevant exhibitions to Kamloops. The KMA seeks to foster pride of place and offers a unique experience for creativity and learning Read more...
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Kitimat Museum & Archives

Kitimat
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Explore town history with the coming of Alcan’s aluminum smelter in the 1950s, early valley settlement, and Haisla traditional arts and technology. Additional displays feature regional geology, flora, and fauna. Historical Collection of videos, courtesy of Rio Tinto BC Works, showcasing the early years of the original Kitimat Project. Nechako Survey – (Historical Collection circa 1950) Prelude to Kitimat – Read more...
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Ksan Historical Village And Museum

Hazelton
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Found within Gitxsan Territory, Ksan Historical Village stands where the village of Gitanmaax has existed for centuries. It is the desire of Ksan to preserve and truthfully portray the lifestyle of the people who have always lived here. ‘Ksan Historical Village and Museum are located near the ancient village of Gitanmaax,  at the confluence of the Bulkley and Skeena Rivers Read more...
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Mackie Lake House

Vernon
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Explore the historical elegance of the exquisitely crafted 1910 Historic Mackie Lake House nestled on the shores of Kalamalka Lake. Learn about the architecture, history, and characteristics of this unique home and the families who lived here. Tours are offered each spring/summer, and we host events throughout the year. The Mackie Lake House Foundation also rents the house and grounds Read more...
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Museum at Campbell River

Campbell River
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Come and visit our award winning, regional history museum! See, hear and touch our human coastal history. Explore our vibrant and contemporary exhibits of First Nations cultures and historic coastal lifestyles, and gain a deeper understanding of the regions history. View a five-minute dramatic presentation of The Treasures of Siwidi, featuring spectacular masks and the powerful voice of a local Read more...
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Museum of North Vancouver

North Vancouver
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Igniting curious minds through powerful stories of North Vancouver. MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver, operated by the North Vancouver Museum and Archives, is a shared partner agency of the City and District of North Vancouver. MONOVA operates both the Museum of North Vancouver in The Shipyards and the Archives of North Vancouver located in Lynn Valley. In addition to the Read more...
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Museum of Northern BC

Prince Rupert
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Enter the Museum of Northern BC in Prince Rupert and experience the beauty of Northwest Coast architecture and the rich traditions of the Tsimshian First Nation. Located overlooking Prince Rupert Harbour, the Museum is renowned for its spectacular collection of timeless art, that brings to life the history and culture of the Northwest Coast. The Museum also features the dramatic Read more...
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Museum of Surrey

Surrey
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Museum of Surrey, located at 17710 56A Avenue in Cloverdale, is owned and operated by the City of Surrey. Located on the Heritage Campus in Cloverdale, the museum includes a main building with feature gallery, TD Explore Zone, Indigenous Hall, Textile Centre and Surrey Stories Gallery. Three heritage buildings are located on the east side of the museum – 1881 Read more...
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Museum of Vancouver

Vancouver
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Gain a deeper understanding of our city through stories, objects, and shared experiences at Museum of Vancouver (MOV). Learn about Vancouver’s past from 1900 to 1970 by visiting MOV’s History Galleries. MOV is located in scenic Vanier Park. Only a 5 minute drive from downtown and a 20 minute stroll along the ocean boardwalk to either; Granville Island or Kitsilano Beach. Read more...
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Nisga’a Museum / Hli Goothl Wilp Adokshl Nisga’a

New Aiyansh
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Welcome to Hli Goothl Wilp-Adokshl Nisga’a, a name representing the four tribes that make up the Nisga’a Nation. The museum displays artifacts of all four peoples within its permanent exhibition,  an assemblage of 300+ art objects that left the Nass Valley in the latter part of the 19th Century and early part of the 20th Century. During the struggle for Read more...
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North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site

Port Edward
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North Pacific Cannery | National Historic Site is unique among the few surviving salmon canneries.  It was established in 1889 and is the oldest remaining intact cannery on the West Coast of North America and ran continuously for almost 100 years. Original architecture and the pristine BC wilderness set the backdrop for a unique and engaging experience. As a visitor Read more...
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North Shore Museums

North Vancouver
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Delve into a little history at our museums and find out all about us, who we are, where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. BC Mills House MONOVA West Vancouver Art Museum Read more...
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Pemberton and District Museum and Archives

Pemberton
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Welcome to the Pemberton Museum located in the heart of the Pemberton Valley, the traditional and unceded territory of Lil’wat Nation, who have been here since time immemorial. Nestled in downtown Pemberton, our beautiful 1-acre site is home to 9 historic buildings, the earliest built in 1897, as well as a collection of over 2,500 artifacts, 2,000 photographs and over 20 meters Read more...
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Penticton Museum & Archives

Penticton
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Explore the unique world of the South Okanagan beyond its famous ‘beaches and peaches’ with tons of hands-on displays and activities for the whole family. Browse through our links to the left to learn about the museum, view our current and upcoming exhibits, and get involved!   Read more...
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Princeton Museum

Princeton
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The PDMA has a wide range of historic collections reflecting Princeton’s history: Official Repository of local First Nations archaeological artifacts. A First Peoples basket display exhibiting various weaving styles and periods. an extensive range of local pioneer items providing a visual record of life in Princeton. a fossil and mineral collection of over 40,000 specimens many from local sites. a Read more...
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R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum

Salmon Arm
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R.J. Haney Heritage Village and the Museum and Archives, located at 751- Highway 97B, is a lovely place that offers a unique and authentic experience for visitors to come and explore our rich Heritage. The 40-acre site is comprised of 24 buildings that are either replicas or originals, including the original 1910 Haney House. There are over 30 exhibits, which Read more...
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Richmond Olympic Oval and Olympic Experience

Richmond
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Built for the Games. Designed for Legacy. The Richmond Olympic Oval is now one of the most heavily used Olympic Legacy facilities in the world, featuring facilities, programs and services for sport, health, wellness, culture and entertainment activities.  Among the most recent additions to the Oval is the Olympic Experience: Canada’s only Olympic Museum. A highly interactive and dynamic museum, Read more...
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Sncəwips Heritage Museum

Kelowna
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The Sncəwips Heritage Museum provides a protected place for syilx/Okanagan culture and heritage. Our museum creates space for and elevates the voices of our community members through exhibitions, tours, and programs. Sncəwips fosters an open, honest, and authentic environment that allows all visitors of the Okanagan to experience the collections, histories, and oral stories of the syilx/Okanagan people from a syilx/Okanagan perspective. We Read more...
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Steveston Interurban Tram

Richmond
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The Steveston Tram museum features Tram Car 1220, one of the original trams that ran on Richmond’s Interurban rail system. Today, the immaculately restored tram car and the building that houses it, allow visitors to experience authentic Interurban rail travel and learn about early 20th century transportation. Designed to house Tram Car 1220, the museum was built around the original tracks Read more...
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Tems Swiya Museum

Sechelt
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We are located uniquely at the centre of the Sunshine Coast.  We are a very proud museum as it is managed by our Shishalh people.  We give a in depth tour, telling our history and culture to all that enter.  The museum artifacts are found in our land, thus giving it the name Tems Swiya which translates to Our World Read more...
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The Reach Gallery Museum

Abbotsford
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Located on unceded Stó:lō territory, The Reach Gallery Museum is the leading resource for cultural and creative innovation in the Fraser Valley, committed to preserving and sharing the stories of our rich and diverse cultural heritage and showcasing the best in visual arts from both inside and outside the community. The Reach is a community gathering place that forges connections Read more...
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Touchstones Gallery & Museum

Nelson
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The Nelson Museum, Archives & Gallery celebrates the creativity, the history, the vibe that is Nelson, Canada’s Best Small Art Town.  Located in a stunning 1902 heritage building in the heart of the historic downtown district, Nelsons only public museum and archives offers a friendly atmosphere in an exciting state-of-the-art facility. Visitors will learn about the region’s expansive history from Read more...

Upcoming Community Events

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Fibre & Textile Art Classes | Place des Arts

Coquitlam
Date:
January 1, 2023
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December 31, 2023
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Check out the full list of workshops here Our fibre arts classes explore weaving, felting, spinning and dyeing and other fibre arts. Students gain hands-on experience while developing fine motor skills, colour sense and learn how textiles are created. Read more...
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Ceramics, Pottery and Sculpture @Place des Arts

Coquitlam
Date:
January 1, 2023
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December 31, 2023
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Find full list of workshops here Kids love getting their hands in the mud in our Clay Play handbuilding classes, and teens and adults can develop and hone skills in handbuilding or wheelthrowing. Read more...
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Murals of Chemainus

Chemainus
Date:
January 1, 2023
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December 30, 2023
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The Chemainus Mural Project, started in 1981, is the world’s leading community-driven art tourism experience. Spurred to save a community from certain economic collapse, the Chemainus Mural Project has delighted and inspired millions of visitors and ultimately became the blueprint for community mural projects globally. The Chemainus Festival of Murals Society restores, maintains and introduces new murals as the occasion Read more...
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New Westminster Public Art

New Westminster
Date:
January 1, 2023
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June 1, 2024
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Promoting and encouraging diverse and inclusive  public art opportunities to animate the urban landscape and nurture civic dialogue.  Read more...
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Quesnel Painted Fire Hydrant Walking Tour

Quesnel
Date:
January 1, 2023
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December 31, 2023
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Download PDF of the Tour The tour begins at City Hall on the corner of Kinchant Street and St. Laurent Avenue. Follow the brochure map to see all the hydrants in the order they are presented.Fire Hydrant Sponsors (in order of the tour ): Ron Rasmussen CA Subway City Furniture Safeway Expressions by Ewe Circle ‘S’ Western Wear Outlaws Willis Harper Spa Rivier Read more...
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Richmond Public Art

Richmond
Date:
January 1, 2023
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June 1, 2024
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There are a variety of ways to learn about and explore Richmond’s public art. Discover them online on our Public Art Registry page, or take a look at our public art brochures. The City of Richmond is proud to be home to a wealth of signature public artworks and is dedicated to creating a vibrant city in which to live Read more...
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Historical Walking Tour of Downtown New Westminster

New Westminster
Date:
January 1, 2023
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May 30, 2024
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As one of Canada’s oldest cities, New Westminster is filled with history and is home to some of the province’s oldest structures. Follow along as we explore its historical roots and learn about the rich past of Downtown New West. We’ve listed four prominent buildings for you to explore, but be sure to do some of your own exploring along the way! Read more...
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Public Art and Murals in Sechelt

Sechelt
Date:
January 1, 2023
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May 31, 2024
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Public Art Tour = Free Mobile App Our Public Art Collection enriches the quality of life for both residents and visitors alike through the display of art in public places, and by preserving and collecting artworks that are significant to our local cultural heritage. The first work of art to enter the District of Sechelt’s collection was a painting titled Sechelt Read more...
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