Royal British Columbia Museum

  • Three tall carved wooden poles in the Northwest Coast formline style on the museum’s grounds. On the left, the foreground pole is weathered and painted in red, black and green. In the background are two other poles with more faded paint. The left pole has an eagle figure with outstretched wings at the top, while the right one has three watchmen figures on top and a raven beak protruding out. In the background is a wooden house, trees and the Royal BC Museum building.
    Interactive station at the museum. A museum staff member, wearing a nametag and vest, holds out a small log for a female visitor to feel. She has blond hair in a bun, and is wearing a black tank top and cross-body purse. Behind her listening in is a male visitor with dark hair, glasses and a backpack over his white shirt. On the table separating the staff member is a textured, fossil-like object. Behind them, almost out of view is a display of a wooly mammoth.
    Wide shot of two women taking a smiling selfie inside the musem. The woman taking the picture in front has brown hair and glasses. She holding a glass of beer and is wearing a floral dress and orange cardigan. The woman behind has black hair and is holding a glass of white wine and wearing a black shirt. Behind them is a brick wall. They are bathed in pink and blue light, and around them are other museum guests milling about.
    Three tall carved wooden poles in the Northwest Coast formline style on the museum’s grounds. On the left, the foreground pole is weathered and painted in red, black and green. In the background are two other poles with more faded paint. The left pole has an eagle figure with outstretched wings at the top, while the right one has three watchmen figures on top and a raven beak protruding out. In the background is a wooden house, trees and the Royal BC Museum building.
    Interactive station at the museum. A museum staff member, wearing a nametag and vest, holds out a small log for a female visitor to feel. She has blond hair in a bun, and is wearing a black tank top and cross-body purse. Behind her listening in is a male visitor with dark hair, glasses and a backpack over his white shirt. On the table separating the staff member is a textured, fossil-like object. Behind them, almost out of view is a display of a wooly mammoth.
    Wide shot of two women taking a smiling selfie inside the musem. The woman taking the picture in front has brown hair and glasses. She holding a glass of beer and is wearing a floral dress and orange cardigan. The woman behind has black hair and is holding a glass of white wine and wearing a black shirt. Behind them is a brick wall. They are bathed in pink and blue light, and around them are other museum guests milling about.
  • Exterior of the Royal BC Museum building against a blue slightly cloudy sky. The main building has 3 stories, tall columns in the front and a large producing wing. Leading up to the building are two sets of stairs and several trees.
    Bird’s eye view shot of several children gathered around a glass display case containing several labelled spider, centipede and scorpion specimens. One child holds a magnifying glass over the case, while another points to a specimen.
    Visitors sitting inside a darkened movie theatre. In the foreground on the left is a boy with dark hair wearing 3D glasses, holding a popcorn and soft drink with mouth agape. Beside is a girl with brown hair, also wearing 3D glasses and holding popcorn, smiling. Behind them are other adults out of focus wearing their own 3D glasses and popcorn.
    Exterior of the Royal BC Museum building against a blue slightly cloudy sky. The main building has 3 stories, tall columns in the front and a large producing wing. Leading up to the building are two sets of stairs and several trees.
    Bird’s eye view shot of several children gathered around a glass display case containing several labelled spider, centipede and scorpion specimens. One child holds a magnifying glass over the case, while another points to a specimen.
    Visitors sitting inside a darkened movie theatre. In the foreground on the left is a boy with dark hair wearing 3D glasses, holding a popcorn and soft drink with mouth agape. Beside is a girl with brown hair, also wearing 3D glasses and holding popcorn, smiling. Behind them are other adults out of focus wearing their own 3D glasses and popcorn.
  • Two children and a woman peer over a tidal pool display in the Natural History gallery. Inside the tide pool are colourful anemones and mollusc shells. In the background is a realistic-looking beach scene with driftwood and seals perched on top of rocks to the left, and a forest scene to the right. Other museum visitors mill about.
    A visitor inside of the HMS Discovery exhibition, a full-scale replica of a wooden boat from the late 1700s. They are looking at the boat’s interior, where there is a desk, chair and several side tables. On display are a globe, several navigation instruments, quill and inkwell, and books spread about. In the background are shelves installed into the walls and a set of panelled windows.
    Artist Virgil Sampson sitting at a table, tying the strings to a leather-hide drum. He has grey hair, glasses and is wearing a black vest with red formline designs. Two boys sit across from him looking on. To the right, a boy, wearing glasses and a patka, touches another drum being held out by another person out of view.
    Two children and a woman peer over a tidal pool display in the Natural History gallery. Inside the tide pool are colourful anemones and mollusc shells. In the background is a realistic-looking beach scene with driftwood and seals perched on top of rocks to the left, and a forest scene to the right. Other museum visitors mill about.
    A visitor inside of the HMS Discovery exhibition, a full-scale replica of a wooden boat from the late 1700s. They are looking at the boat’s interior, where there is a desk, chair and several side tables. On display are a globe, several navigation instruments, quill and inkwell, and books spread about. In the background are shelves installed into the walls and a set of panelled windows.
    Artist Virgil Sampson sitting at a table, tying the strings to a leather-hide drum. He has grey hair, glasses and is wearing a black vest with red formline designs. Two boys sit across from him looking on. To the right, a boy, wearing glasses and a patka, touches another drum being held out by another person out of view.

Discover the stories that make BC

We are one of the oldest continually operating museums in Canada, located on lək̓ʷəŋən territory. A cultural centre of learning and research (which includes the BC Archives and IMAX), we strive to broaden understanding of BC through collections, exhibits, outreach and community engagement. Through community collaboration, we share stories of BC and provide a dynamic space for discussion and reflection.

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Open today10 a.m.–5 p.m. Buy tickets

Building Right Relations

We acknowledge the lək̓ʷəŋən (Place to Smoke Herring People) also known as the Songhees and Xwsepsum Nations as the traditional keepers of these lands and waters. It is with gratitude we learn to live, work and walk respectfully on their lands today.

More about this territory

Building Right Relations

Building Right Relations

Exhibitions

Beyond the Beat

Feel the rhythm and discover how music has shaped the course of history and inspired social change with, Beyond the Beat: Music of Resistance and Change, travelling from the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

  • Included with Admission
  • Free for Members

Odysseys and Migration

With stories and objects from the 18th century to present-day, explore belonging, identity, and the enduring strength of Chinese diaspora communities in Canada.

  • Included with Admission
  • Free for Members

More to see on now

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Two children and an adult visitor admiring the Natural History gallery installation. A realistic-looking grizzly bear walks through a canopied forest, approaching a creek filled with smooth pebbles. There is moss covering the forest floor and trees. In the background are wall-height informative displays about trees.

Natural History Gallery

Wide shot of the Old Town, New Approach gallery. On either side are recreations of the facades of old buildings spanning two stories. In the background is a painted sign advertising a paint and oil company and an old-fashioned horse-drawn cart. A free-standing orange and green informational sign sits in the middle of the shiny black cobblestone floor.

Old Town, New Approach

Interior of Jonathan Hunt House being admired by two museum visitors. The installation has two large carved wooden poles flanking a large rectangular painted panel. The left pole is of a raven figure and the right pole is of an eagle. Both have outstretched wings and are carved in Northwest Coast formline style and painted black, red, and green. The panel in the middle has a sun design with a human figure, and a circular hole in the torso. A wooden platform and bench sit in front. The room’s walls are panelled wood, and there is an A-frame pointed roof. A painted bench against the left wall is halfway in frame.

Jonathan Hunt House

Forgotten Landscapes

BC Archives on Display

All Exhibitions

Your visit directly enriches learning in BC

Your museum admission supports 200+ jobs, critical research, education programs, and preservation of BC’s cultural and natural heritage. 

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December 19

  • Helmcken House Old-Fashioned Christmas

    Step through the doors of the oldest house in British Columbia still on its original site and experience what Christmas was like in Victoria more than 100 years ago. Decorations, music and first-hand accounts will take you back to Christmas past.

    Helmcken House

    Also happening on: Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 21, Dec. 27, Dec. 28

    All Day
    Free for Members

December 20

  • Helmcken House Old-Fashioned Christmas

    Step through the doors of the oldest house in British Columbia still on its original site and experience what Christmas was like in Victoria more than 100 years ago. Decorations, music and first-hand accounts will take you back to Christmas past.

    Helmcken House

    Also happening on: Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 20, Dec. 27, Dec. 28

    All Day
    Free for Members

December 26

  • Helmcken House Old-Fashioned Christmas

    Step through the doors of the oldest house in British Columbia still on its original site and experience what Christmas was like in Victoria more than 100 years ago. Decorations, music and first-hand accounts will take you back to Christmas past.

    Helmcken House

    Also happening on: Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 28

    All Day
    Free for Members

December 27

  • Helmcken House Old-Fashioned Christmas

    Step through the doors of the oldest house in British Columbia still on its original site and experience what Christmas was like in Victoria more than 100 years ago. Decorations, music and first-hand accounts will take you back to Christmas past.

    Helmcken House

    Also happening on: Dec. 6, Dec. 7, Dec. 13, Dec. 14, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 27

    All Day
    Free for Members

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