What to Expect

Step into the living cultures and natural history of British Columbia

Curious minds of all ages can explore ecosystems, peer into history, and gain new perspectives on how people live and thrive here. Make big and small discoveries at your own pace, from a few hours to a full day. And if you come again, you’ll find that we keep adding and updating along with our always-growing understanding of BC. 

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Tickets are available at the door and online. Skip the line by buying ahead.

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Something for everyone

Spend hours taking in: 

Around every corner there’s a wow moment that connects you with the stories that make up BC. From towering Coast Salish carved poles to stunning wildlife recreations, everything you’ll see at the museum is curated and interpreted by professional researchers actively working in their field.  

Explore our galleries and grounds

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Wide shot of the Our Living Languages exhibition. Tall wooden panelled displays span the height of the room. To the left is a colourful Salish weaving, and glass displays featuring beaded leather hide boots, a purse and embellished vest. Facing the camera is an informational wall display showing a person wearing a pointed cedar hat and button blanket who is playing a leather drum, with supporting text and graphs. On the far back and right walls are beam-like displays that show maps of different languages in British Columbia and have speakers and illuminated buttons.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Wide shot of the Our Living Languages exhibition. Tall wooden panelled displays span the height of the room. To the left is a colourful Salish weaving, and glass displays featuring beaded leather hide boots, a purse and embellished vest. Facing the camera is an informational wall display showing a person wearing a pointed cedar hat and button blanket who is playing a leather drum, with supporting text and graphs. On the far back and right walls are beam-like displays that show maps of different languages in British Columbia and have speakers and illuminated buttons.

You are welcome here 

We’re proud to welcome visitors to a safe and inclusive environment where curiosity and inclusion are part of everything we do. Throughout the museum you’ll find friendly staff and volunteers. They’re here to help with any question or need during your visit.  

We offer a wide range of accessibility accommodations and programs to reduce all kinds of barriers for those who want to visit. Please get in touch with questions about any special access needs you might have.

Ticketing options

We offer a variety of accessible pricing programs to reduce barriers to visitors.

Access our buildings and facilities

Our facilities are wheelchair accessible. Learn more about physically navigating our grounds.

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Find out when all of our facilities are open and how to get to us.

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See what’s happening here

From hands-on family fun to learning events just for adults, there’s always something new to do.

Check out IMAX® showtimes

See jaw-dropping documentaries and Hollywood feature films on BC’s biggest screen.

See museum maps

Explore the museum grounds and our outdoor Cultural Precinct.

Book a school visit

Bring your classroom to the museum for an unforgettable day of learning.

Visit as a group

For groups of 15 or more people, contact us for special rates and custom booking.

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