Museum of Vancouver
The Museum of Vancouver is the largest civic museum in Canada
Located a short bus ride from downtown Vancouver in Vanier Park, the Museum of Vancouver features four permanent exhibits along with historic and archaeological collections. There are also temporary exhibits brought in throughout the year. While the focus is on the fascinating culture, history and development of Vancouver and area, there are numerous artifacts from around the world.
The museum itself has a long history going back to 1984 when it was founded by the Art, Historical, and Scientific Association of Vancouver which displayed their collections in various locations around the city until opening their first permanent location at the Carnegie Library in 1905. It's current location was constructed in 1967 in conjunction with Canada's centennial and named the Centennial Museum. The name was changed to the Vancouver Museum in 1981 and finally to the Museum of Vancouver in 2009. The museum continues to showcase a great collection of historic, nostalgic, modern and artistic artifacts from Vancouver and area.
The museum also adjoins the H.R. MacMillan Space Center Planetarium and is just a short walk from the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
For complete details about the Museum of Vancouver see the official website above.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesMuseum of Vancouver 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 – 8:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: 1100 Chestnut St, Vancouver, BC V6J 3J9, Canada
Phone: (604) 736-4431
Official Website: Museum of Vancouver
Museum of Vancouver Reviews
Rated out of 5
Loved the entire museum. Spent 3 hours carefully browsing and reading the display descriptions. I came out of it learning more about the historical ties of Indigenous people and their lands, the past discrimination they and other nation immigrants faced, Vancouver during the great depression, and the 50s.
There were also fun and surprising learnings, like the poster mafia, and the Taiwanese activism about misused public funds (not Vancouver specific but it does equally raise questions and concerns about the situation here)
My least favorite part is the hippy section near the end, but maybe by then I was just out of energy
Appreciate how everything was presented. Great cooling, lightning, and displays.
... the toilets could use some better cleaning tho...
Tarek K - a month ago
This place is nice if you love trees and nature and wood. They have a sample boats made of wood by people couple couple years ago. There's a tattoo gallery too and a small gallery of the 1800 times. The ancient car, tv, tram, sewing machine, dresses, hair salon, golf kit, and a few more. They have an outdoor section where you can see different plants and trees.
Asiyah Aleem - 3 months ago
1st Sunday of every month the entrance is by donation.
Temporary exhibitions are awesome. We loved the photography project on the abandoned places in Taiwan (mosquito halls)
The tattoo exhibition was good as well.
Interesting if you want to know more about Vancouvers history and how did it changed over the years.
Don't forget to touch the sample piece of the moon at the outer space exhibition.
8 to 12 mins walking from the bus stop.
Vanessa Mckenzie - 3 months ago
The ancestral tattoo exhibit and the mahogany project were so cool! The museum is also a great place to go to learn more about the history of greater Vancouver area pre-colonialism all the way up to the present day
Kai Kuelz - 4 months ago
Nice way to spend a few hours! It’s nice the museum is currently open later (until 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays). It was great to learn the history of Vancouver which was interesting. If you choose a song to play in the 70s section, it will play seemingly the whole recording 🎶. The basement washrooms felt haunted but that was kinda fun.
Lisa - 5 months ago
Directions
| SkyTrain Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Expo Line | Burrard Station | 9 Minutes |
How to get to Museum of Vancouver by SkyTrain
From Burrard SkyTrain Station take the Burrard Street exit and catch either the #2 or #22 Macdonald going south on Burrard Street at the stop directly in front of the station. Take either bus to the Cypress Street Stop on Cornwall Avenue (less that 10 minutes). Walk back along Cornwall Ave. to Chestnut Street and go left. The museum is located in the same complex as the planetariium.
Map & Instant Route Finder
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Accommodations near Museum of Vancouver:
Photo Gallery
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HR McMillan Space Centre (Planetarium) and Museum of Vancouver located in Vanier Park -
A display of brightly lit neon signs on display at the MOV cc licensed photo by *_* -
Photo Credit: Reg Natarajan - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Reg Natarajan - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Reg Natarajan - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Reg Natarajan - cc license via Flickr
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