Museums
Fort Langley, Tourism Langley photo
Museums in British Columbia have collections for all passions and interests: Aboriginal art, maritime history, railways, cowboys, gold rush relics, dinosaurs, toasters and farming equipment. With all this choice, where to begin?
Large museums, such as Vancouver's Museum of Anthropology and Victoria's Royal BC Museum, are home to impressive displays of Aboriginal art and culture. Smaller community museums are bursting with a wealth of local artifacts, photos and stories.
Learn about trains at the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel in Cranbrook, Arctic exploration at the Vancouver Maritime Museum or the building of the Alaska Highway at Dawson Creek.
Explore the past at the Dinosaur Discovery Gallery in Tumbler Ridge and discover Aboriginal culture at Haida Heritage Centre. The cowboy lifestyle is on display at the Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin, a gold rush boomtown comes to life in Barkerville Historic Town, and the fur trade era is preserved at Fort Langley National Historic Site.
There are also some unique museums: mechanical musical instruments (in Revelstoke) and even toasters (in Stewart).
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Museums in BC's Regions and Cities:
Vancouver: The Museum of Anthropology has one of the world’s best collections of Aboriginal art and artifacts.
Victoria: Home to the Royal BC Museum (British Columbia’s largest museum) and the Maritime Museum of BC.
Whistler: The Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre has stunning Aboriginal displays.
Vancouver Coast & Mountains: Site of Fort Langley National Historic Site, the Britannia Mine Museum and the Canadian Museum of Flight.
Vancouver Island: Forestry, fishing and aviation museums, and Aboriginal culture in Alert Bay and Duncan.
Kootenay Rockies: Many mining, forestry and railway museums.
Northern British Columbia: Aboriginal culture at ‘Ksan Historical Village, Haida Heritage Centre and the Museum of Northern BC.
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast: Charming small town museums, along with Historic Barkerville.
Thompson Okanagan: Museums that cover pioneers and agriculture, as well as the SS Sicamous.
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Activity/Branch/Terminal
Visitor Centres
7011 Pioneer Ave
Agassiz, British Columbia
V0M 1A0
Agassiz is a friendly agricultural community known for healthy, country living and endless outdoor activities!
The Agassiz-Harrison Museum & Visitor Information Centre is housed in an 1893 CPR station. Our museum offers railway history, period clothing, artifacts, photographs and stories of pioneer life. In our Gift Shop you will find all things local; art, jewelry, preserves, books, pottery, woodwork and many more handcrafted items.
While visiting our area explore the Circle Farm Tour, water sports, fishing, hiking, cycling, para gliding, skiing in the picturesque Fraser Valley.
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9131 King St
Fort Langley, British Columbia
V1M 2R6
Bring the children, grandchildren, or your tourist guests to check out the largest collection of pioneer artifacts in Western Canada. In 2 buildings in Fort Langley - across the street from The Fort - you will find the most interesting collection of tractors, carriages, small engines, as well as models. Women will love the farm kitchen, the parlor & the textile room exhibiting historic looms & sewing machines. Check out the working sawmill & the steam engine. The archival library contains thousands of manuals, magazines & other agricultural documents & pictures. A great reference source for students of all ages.
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1304 Ellis St
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1Y 1Z8
The BC Orchard Industry Museum is housed in the historic Laurel Packinghouse and explores the Okanagan's roots in the tree fruit industry.
The Laurel Packinghouse was built over the winter of 1917/1918 and is Kelowna's first designated heritage building. It operated as a fruit packinghouse until the 1970s and today, is home to the BC Orchard Industry Museum and the BC Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop. Features engaging displays on irrigation, fruit picking, packing and more. Please call for information on booking a guided tour.
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Gate A - BC Place
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6B 4Y8
Explore. Experience. Be Proud. Be Inspired. Open daily at Gate A of BC Place, visitors can learn about BC's best athletes and teams in the Hall of Champions. Relive the Winter Games in the Vancouver 2010 Gallery where you can take your photo on a 2010 Podium and see the Olympic and Paralympic medals and mascots. Immerse yourself in the monumental journeys of Terry Fox and Rick Hansen. The Our Teams; Our Turf Gallery celebrates the Vancouver Canucks, BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps. Run, jump and play in the Participation Zone and see inside the spectacular BC Place.
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2212 Main Mall
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6T 1Z4
The University of British Columbia's rich biological collections are housed in the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, a new public museum dedicated to enhancing the public's understanding and appreciation of biodiversity, and making the research conducted by the scientists of UBC's Biodiversity Research Centre more accessible to the public. Our spectacular two-storey glass gallery showcases the Beaty Biodiversity Museum's flagship exhibit, the skeleton of a blue whale - the largest animal on the planet. The Museum and Research Centre are housed side-by-side in the new Beaty Biodiversity Centre building, nearby to the Museum of Anthropology, UBC Botanical Garden and the Greenheart Canopy Walkway.
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UBC Museums & Gardens Pass
1 low price/4 great attractions-Museum of Anthropology, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, UBC Botanical Garden & Nitobe Garden
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6501 Deer Lake Ave
Burnaby, British Columbia
V5G 3T6
Experience heritage. Stroll down the streets of our 1920s community. A village has been created with both heritage & replica buildings. Period costumed townsfolk give demonstrations in the homes, businesses & shops: watch the blacksmith at forge, listen to the rhythm of the platen press, mind the teacher in the schoolhouse, help churn butter & catch an old movie in the theatre. Be sure to take in the elegance of the Interurban #1223. This mode of transportation was ahead of its time. A ride on the 100 year old 1912 CW Parker Carousel is sure to please.
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850 River Rd
Prince George, British Columbia
V2L 5S8
The Railway and Forestry Museum is a place to explore.
Climb aboard locomotives, plows, speeders, fire engines and railcars. Ever been inside a beehive burner? Tour Penny Station and relive 1915 through the eyes of the old Station Master. The museum also has an incredible selection of chainsaws dating back to 1938 as well as the really big forestry equipment used in the early logging days of Prince George.
See the whole park on the Cottonwood Mini Rail ride and leave some time to learn about what's in our latest exhibit and visit the unique 'trains' gift shop.
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Buildings 37 & 39
Victoria, British Columbia
V9A 7N2
Museum exhibits focus on 4 areas - Canada's Navy on the West Coast; the Canadian Women's Army Corps (CWAC); the Women's Royal Canadian Naval Service (WRCNS); army defence of Canada's West Coast. The Museum is part of a National Historic District & its heritage buildings date from the 1890s. In addition to exhibits & displays, the museum houses an expanding archive that include thousands of photographs & documents, histories of Canadian naval vessels, navigation charts, biographies of important leaders in the Canadian Navy & copies of the Navy List.
Museum tours by arrangement - contact staff.
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45820 Spadina Ave
Chilliwack, British Columbia
V2P 1T3
The Chilliwack Museum is located in Chilliwack's premier heritage building, the former City Hall (built in 1911). This National Historic Site is an architectural gem. Two galleries present Chilliwack's history while a third gallery offers changing monthly art exhibits.
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19 Wing Comox/CFB Comox
Comox, British Columbia
V0R 2K0
Come celebrate the history of 19 Wing Comox & West Coast Canadian Military Aviation. Relive the daring exploits of BC's Airmen in the short-lived Royal Flying Corps of Canada (1917-1918) & Canadian Air Force (1918-1924) through the glory years of the Royal Canadian Air Force (1924-1968), the consolidation of the forces in 1968 & on into the present day, all with a local focus. All of 19 Wing's squadrons, past & present, are represented. Our museum has a Heritage Air Park, exhibiting aircraft from the past including the Y2K Spitfire Restoration Project, a well-stocked Gift Shop & an aviation reference library. Admission is by donation.
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