Museums
Antiques in a window (David Gluns photo)
New Westminster, British Columbia's oldest city (est. 1859) and original provincial capital, has several interesting museums that celebrate its rich history.
New West Museum and Archives
Compact but informative, the New Westminster Museum and Archives features exhibits that document everything from the city's early Gold Rush years to the devastating Great Fire of 1898 to the British Columbia Penitentiary that closed in 1980.
Admire a red 1876 stagecoach built for the Governor-General of Canada, learn about the Royal Engineers (bricklayers, blacksmiths, cartographers, and others) who built New Westminster under the command of the British army, and buy historical books in the gift shop. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. Hours are 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. from May to August, and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. from September to April.
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Irving House Historic Centre
Visitors to the New Westminster Museum and Archives can also check out the adjacent Irving House Historic Centre. Built in the early 1860s, this San Francisco-Gothic Revival style heritage home is the oldest intact house in Metro Vancouver. Learn more about Irving House and New Westminster's historic and heritage sites.
The New West Regiment
The Museum of the New Westminster Regiment occupies the old gun room of the city's Armoury, and pays tribute to the military history of the "Royal City." Learn about how the original Royal Engineers designed roads, schools, and hospitals in the region in the mid-1800's, and view medals, uniforms, and rifles accumulated by the "Westies" during their service in World War I, World War II, and other conflicts. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday.
Discover the Fraser River
At Westminster Quay, the Fraser River Discovery Centre reveals the historical, cultural, and environmental impact of British Columbia's longest river. It's reopening in 2009 after a major expansion. The centre, covering 17,000 sq ft/1,580 sq m, has galleries on the upper, middle, and lower Fraser River, and features rotating exhibits on subjects like native tribes, river birds, and New Westminster's 150th anniversary.
Samson V Maritime Museum
At the Samson V Maritime Museum, also located at Westminster Quay, visitors can explore a sternwheel snag boat that patrolled the Fraser River from 1937 to 1980, clearing away logs and other debris. It is the last remaining original Fraser River paddlewheeler. Tour the restored cabins and engine room, view historical photos, and learn about famous riverboat captains from museum guides. The museum is open from 12 pm to 5 pm on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from May 1 to June 30; daily from July 1 to Labour Day (the first Monday in September); and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from Labour Day to mid-October.
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788 Quayside Dr
New Westminster, British Columbia
V3M 6Z6
Websitehttp://www.fraserriverdiscovery.org
Toll-free
Phone604-521-8401
Located on the banks of the river in New Westminster, the Fraser River Discovery Centre connects individuals to BC's largest water system, the Fraser River. Together families will discover interesting facts about the Mighty Fraser through fun, hands-on, interactive exhibits, programs and events. No matter the age, there is something for everyone. So come, play, explore and discover!
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