New Westminster Museum

New Westminster Museum and Archives features exhibits about the history, people and development of the City of New Westminster.

Facade of the New Westminster Museum

Many visitors to BC don't realize that Victoria was not always the capital. In fact, the first capital was New Westminster, named by Queen Victoria after its namesake in London. As such, the city has a rich and interesting history. What better way to discover it than a visit to the New Westminster Museum?

The New Westminster Museum and Archives houses a collection of over 36,000 items and 35,000 photographs and historical records.

The Museums exhibits are actually dispersed over 3 different locations. The main one, located on the 3rd floor of the Anvil Centre on Columbia Street is open daily throughout the year. Irving House, located at 302 Royal Avenue, is open Saturday and Sunday from 12pm to 4pm September through April and Wednesday to Sunday from 12pm to 5pm May through August. The Samson V, located at 880 Quayside Drive, is open from May through October.

The Irving House at 302 Royal Avenue is a remarkable old home built in the 1800s that belonged to Captain William Irving.

The Samson V is the one and only wooden sternwheeler in North America that is still floating and intact. It was the last steam-powered sternwheeler operating in Canada. This historic vessel plied the waters of the Fraser River from 1937 until its retirement in 1980. It was subsequently purchased by the City with the provision it would be preserved as a museum.

Whether you have the opportunity to visit just the Museum, or all 3 locations, you can be sure you will enjoy the time you spent.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: By Donation

New Westminster Museum Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Thursday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Address: 777 Columbia St, New Westminster, BC V3M 1B6, Canada

Phone: (604) 527-4640

Official Website: New Westminster Museum

New Westminster Museum Reviews

Rated 4.4 out of 5 Star Rating

4 Star Rating A free museum in the Anvil Centre, if you're already here to see the New Media Gallery or the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame, check it out. The exhibits include memorabilia, artifacts, newspaper reprints and even a 1926 Ford Model T and a New Westminster Police motorcycle. Interesting history of a part of the world that is new to me so it was interesting to learn a microcosm of Canadian history here as New Westminster grew from before its earliest settlement to the city it is today. Of course, no Canadian museum is complete without an acknowledgement of the impact of colonialism and New Westminster's exhibits include statements and context that recognize it. There is a display of First Peoples artifacts and history.
Bruce K. - 3 months ago

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4 Star Rating Nestled like a fine pearl inside an absurdly-shaped clam, this museum is a must if you have children and a spare 7 minutes. We thought we would risk a little visit to try to up our family class level (actually, that’s a lie - there was Lego. Very cool replication of parts of the city). With only the five-year-old and the one-year-old in tow, it was great to look at donated artefacts of the city’s history, with only the sound of one wolverine trying to chew its own foot off to get out of the stroller, and the ever-present request to know what else there is to see. Because our three-year-old was at Grandma’s and Grandpa’s house today, I thought we may actually get out of the museum without one of the motion-activated noise alarms going off from getting too close to the 100-year-old cars. Alas, a respectful, 65-year-old car enthusiast stood too close, and our oldest went tearing over to see what the alarm was, and got a chance to tell on the perpetrator all the same. A perfect 4 out of 5 stars.
Grayson Smith - 5 years ago

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5 Star Rating Hidden away museum in a beautiful building on Columbia St. Easy to miss, but if you catch it this little place is a wonderful 15-30 minute self-guided tour of some interesting artifacts, the history of New Westminster, and the origins of British Columbia. It’s also in the same building as the New Westminster archives if looking at old papers is your thing. Completely free, air conditioned, and public washrooms available (great to stop in for a cool down on these hot summer days!). The lobby also has an abundance of brochures and guides for events and places to visit all around B.C.
Shae-Lynn Paddington - a year ago

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5 Star Rating Free and having nice exhibits! It is located upstairs at the Anvil center
Franks CHOW - 8 months ago

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3 Star Rating Small, free, under staffed, no one around archives are only open on Thursday 10-5. Very small museum attached to Lacrosse Hall of Fame
Sarah Grace - 4 years ago

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Directions

How to get to New Westminster Museum by SkyTrain

Nearest SkyTrain Line(s): Expo
Nearest SkyTrain Station(s): New Westminster

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