Museums

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, skiing in the picturesque Fraser Valley. Visit the Farmers Market every Thursday in the museum parking lot during the summer

Armstrong/Spallumcheen Museum and Art Society operates a museum, archives and art gallery. This facility is open to the public by donation and makes available the artifacts, archival material and artwork of this region. The Society actively collects, organizes, houses, preserves and presents this material.

We have monthly art shows presenting artists of the North Okanagan from May thru to the last week of November. The museum also operates a gift shop and contains books and postcards from the local area as well as work from local artisans.

Rated as one of the best museums in the interior. Explore Ashcroft during the late 1800's, examine First Nation handcrafts & local history & see China Town in its heyday. A visit to our museum is much like walking down a country lane and peaking into different homes and businesses. A dining room table set for dinner or a local mercantile take our visitors back in time. We are fortunate to have some very rare items in our exhibit. There are special areas that pay special attention to our First Nation and Chinese inhabitants and the role they played in our history.

Bring the children, grandchildren, or your tourist guests to see the largest collection of pioneer artifacts in Western Canada. Two large buildings in Fort Langley - near the HBC Fort. You will find the most interesting collection of pioneer effects, tractors, carriages, small engines, as well as models engines. See the farm kitchen, the parlour & the textile room exhibiting a historic loom & sewing machines. Check out the working windmills & the large steam engine. The archival reference library contains thousands of books, manuals, magazines & other agricultural documents plus early photos. A great reference source for students of all ages.

The BC Forest Discovery Centre is a 40 ha (100 ac) open air museum. With 2.5 km of narrow gauge rail line visitors explore the site on one of the Centre's gas or steam locomotives. Large logging equipment, vintage industrial vehicles & historical buildings make up only a portion of the Centre's unique collection of forestry-related artifacts. A mature second growth forest, trails through Somenos Wetlands & a picnic site on Somenos Lake make this a must see attraction for Southern Vancouver Island. Easy to find, located just north of Duncan on the Trans Canada Hwy.

Fall in love with the diversity of life as you explore over 500 natural history exhibits and stare through the jaws of the largest creature ever to live on Earth, a 26-metre-long blue whale skeleton! The museum houses six major collections including fish, fossils, shells, insects, fungi, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and plant specimens from around British Columbia and the world. Drop-in public programs include activity stations, tours, crafts, puppet shows, and more. The museum also hosts interesting lectures, workshops and temporary art exhibits. Visit our website for more information. Also check out UBC Botanical Garden and Greenheart Canopy Walkway.

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.

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.

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.

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.