Museums & Heritage Sites

Welcome to British Columbia’s Museums and Heritage Sites. Natural landscapes, art, and regional stories await your discovery! British Columbia is a hub of vibrant history and creative destinations. Even more, we've got the scoop on the best places to visit: First, climb aboard a train and into an underground tunnel at Britannia Mine Museum. Next, explore the unique world of the South Okanagan at the Penticton Museum and Archives. Finally, experience the rich traditions of the Tsimshian First Nation at the Museum of Northern BC. And that is just the beginning of your cultural tour! BC's Museums and Heritage Sites are a great place to spend time with the whole family. Book your vacation days now, because these places are not to be missed!

Audain Art Museum

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The Audain Art Museum is thrilled to announce its reopening on Thursday, June 10 at 11am The Audain Art Museum opened in 2016 and was founded by Vancouver home builder and philanthropist Michael Audain and his wife Yoshiko Karasawa. The 56,000 square foot structure is located in Whistler, British Columbia, and was designed by the award-winning architectural firm Patkau Architects. Read more...

Barkerville Historic Town & Park

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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...

BC Farm Museum

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Located in historic Fort Langley the BC Farm Museum has the province’s largest collection of pioneer and agricultural artifacts. Something of interest for every age. Kids love our Scavenger Hunt (with a prize) and after Covid19, rope making, tomato and egg sorting demonstrations. Visitors learn how people lived without electricity and can see first-hand several wooden ice boxes (early refrigerators), see early windmills Read more...

Branscombe House

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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...

Britannia Mine Museum

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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...

Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site

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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...

Bulkley Valley Museum

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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...

CAETANI CENTRE: Where History, Arts and Culture Meet

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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...

Courtenay & District Museum

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The Courtenay and District Museum was established in 1961 as a non-profit organization with the mandate to collect, preserve and interpret natural and cultural heritage of the Comox Valley region. Throughout the year, the museum offers on-site and outdoor programming suitable for all age groups. Program subjects include fossils, geology, First Nations history, pioneer settlement history, social history of the Read more...

Fort Steele Heritage Town

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The past lives and breathes at Fort Steele Heritage Town! Perched on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains since its gold rush beginnings in 1864, the village has gone from boomtown, to regional centre, to ghost town, to one of the most important heritage attractions of its kind in British Columbia! Enjoy old-time trade demonstrations, steam-train rides, and Clydesdale Read more...

Greater Vernon Museum & Archives

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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...

Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site

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Built in 1894 as a salmon cannery in the fishing village of Steveston, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery was once the largest of its kind, earning it the nickname “The Monster Cannery”. Today, interactive displays and exhibits present the history of Canada’s west coast fishing industry, where visitors of all ages will enjoy exploring a restored salmon canning line from Read more...

Haida Gwaii Museum at Kay Llangaay

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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...

Historic O’Keefe Ranch

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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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Historic Stewart Farm

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The farm is your way to experience local farmlife as the Stewarts did over 100 years ago. Historic Stewart Farm is situated on the unceded, traditional and ancestral lands of the Salish peoples, including the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) nations. A Local Heritage Destination Historic Stewart Farm is a one-of-a-kind venue in Surrey, located within Elgin Heritage Park, along Read more...

Huble Homestead Historic Site

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The Huble Homestead is a living historic site that offers tours of heritage buildings such as the Huble House, Salmon Valley Post Office, and the Animal Shelter. Visit replicas of the original General Store, Trapper’s Cabin, Barns, Blacksmith Shop and the First Nations Fish Camp; all aspects of the site represent a time in our history that the Huble Homestead/Giscome Read more...

Irving House

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Located in the heart of the Royal City, Irving House is one of the oldest community heritage sites in BC. Step back to the 1800s as you enter the colonial home of Captain William Irving, King of the Fraser River. Over 140 years of memories live within Irving House “…the handsomest, the best and most home-like house of which British Columbia Read more...

Kamloops Museum and Archives

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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...

Kitimat Museum & Archives

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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...

Ksan Historical Village And Museum

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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...

London Heritage Farm

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London Heritage Farm is a 4 acre heritage site that overlooks the south arm of the Fraser River. The site offers a fully restored 1880s farmhouse, heritage and herb gardens, the restored Spragg family barn, vintage farm equipment and extensive lawns. Hours: The farm house is closed. The gardens remain open-Monday to Sunday, dawn to dusk. Read more...

Mackie Lake House

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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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Mennonite Heritage Museum

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The Mennonite Heritage Museum is owned by the Mennonite Museum Society. Established in 2011, the goals of the Society are: to engage present and future generations with the Mennonite story through a variety of mediums, including both permanent and temporary exhibits, films, and interactive digital displays; to preserve and document the history of Mennonites who came to British Columbia from Read more...

MOA | Museum of Anthropology

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Just 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver and the Vancouver International Airport, the Museum of Anthropology, located at the University of British Columbia, houses one of the world’s finest displays of Northwest Coast First Nations arts in a spectacular Arthur Erickson-designed building overlooking mountains and sea. Inside the soaring glass and concrete structure of MOA’s Great Hall, see magnificent carvings, weavings Read more...

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Museum at 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

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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

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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...

Museum of 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...

Museum of 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. Delve into A Seat at the Table: Chinese Immigration and British Columbia, a multi-sited exhibition explores historical and contemporary stories of Chinese Canadians in BC and their struggles for Read more...

New Westminster Museum and Archives

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The New Westminster Museum and Archives has four facilities throughout New Westminster: the New Westminster Museum, the New Westminster Archives, Irving House and the Samson V. We also have off-site displays at City Hall and the Queensborough Community Centre. New Westminster Museum (in the Anvil Centre) Daily from 10 am to 5 pm (Thursdays to 8 pm)Irving House – Guided Read more...

Nisga’a Museum / Hli Goothl Wilp Adokshl Nisga’a

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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...

North Pacific Cannery National Historic Site

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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...

Penticton Museum & Archives

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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

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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...

R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum

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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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Railway Museum of BC

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The West Coast Railway Association is an historical group dedicated to the preservation of the railway history of British Columbia. We operate the Railway Museum of British Columbia. Membership is open to all people with an interest in railways past and present. The West Coast Railway Association presents the story of how the railways were a catalyst in the creation of Western Canadian communities and their Read more...

Richmond Museum

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We’ll make you curious about our city’s colourful and diverse history when you join us for a journey of discovery as we explore our place in the world. From First Nations baskets to bog horseshoes and Chinese opera costumes, the City of Richmond’s 20,000+ artefact collection tells the many stories of Richmond. Artefacts in the City of Richmond Collection tell Read more...

Richmond Olympic Oval and Olympic Experience

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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...

Samson V

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Samson V, launched in 1937, is the last surviving wooden steam-powered sternwheeler built for the federal Department of Public Works for use as a snag-boat on the Fraser River. At 418 gross tons and 115’ on deck, she was the fifth in a series of similar vessels dating back to 1884 that cleared debris, maintained aids to navigation and government Read more...

Steveston Interurban Tram

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Hours: Currently Closed The newly restored Tram Car 1220 opens a door to Richmond’s fascinating transportation history. Housed in a light-filled building reminiscent of the first Steveston Station, Tram Car 1220 sits on the original rail tracks it ran on until 1958. It is Richmond Museum’s largest artefact. For more information, including opening hours and upcoming special events, visit: www.richmond.ca/interurban1220 Read more...

Telkwa Museum

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Take a step back in time to Telkwa’s early years when you visit the Telkwa Museum. Housed in a 1920’s era schoolhouse, visitors will find a plethora of displays and exhibits that detail Telkwa’s early years, both before and after it officially became a town. Guests will learn about early First Nations people who first populated the region as well Read more...

Tems Swiya Museum

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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...

The Reach Gallery Museum

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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

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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...

Trethewey House Heritage Site

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Trethewey House was built near the shores of Mill Lake in 1919 by provincial lumber baron Joseph Ogle “J.O” Trethewey. As President of the Abbotsford Lumber Company between 1919 and 1927, he led the company during their boom years in the 1920s. The House has undergone extensive restoration work and has been restored to c. 1925 with the help of Read more...

Whistler Museum and Archives

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Come experience Whistlers unique history! Explore interactive exhibits, listen to local stories, and discover Whistlers journey from a popular fishing destination in the early 1900s to the world-class resort and community it is today- including the six separate bids that culminated in the 2010 Winter Games. Highlights include a gift shop featuring local authors, a kids area, film screenings, ongoing Read more...