Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Royal British Columbia Museum
Founded in Victoria in 1886, this impressive museum focuses on BC's cultures,
history, geography, flora, and fauna. The museum is regarded as one of the
best in Canada for the striking way it presents its exhibits. Some 26,000 sq ft
(2,415 sq m) of exhibition space houses more than seven million items.
Dramatic walk-through scenarios bring history to life in four galleries, each
featuring original and often rarely seen artifacts. An extensive collection of
First Nations art and traditional objects, one of the largest and most impressive
in the world, has been amassed.
Top 10 Features
1 Carving Studio
2 Living Land, Living Sea
3 Natural History Gallery
4 First Peoples Gallery
5 Modern History Gallery
6 Helmcken House
7 Carillon Tower
8 Mungo Martin House
9 National Geographic
IMAX Theatre
0 Thunderbird Park
Helmcken House
Opposite the coat-
check, Jazzman's
Café specializes in
fine coffees, lattes,
and pastries. Or try a
light-lunch salad or
sandwich.
Carving Studio
Serene Thunderbird
Park, on the museum
grounds, is home to a
beautiful longhouse and
a carving studio
(center)
.
Many foremost First
Nations carvers have
worked here, including
Chief Mungo Martin, Doug
Cranmer, and Bill Reid.
Pay parking is located
behind the museum
on Superior Street,
at $2 an hour.
Pick up a free map of
the museum at the
entrance.
Living Land, Living
Sea
Climate change is the focus
here, with one-of-a-kind
artifacts and specimens,
and a re-created prehistoric
woolly mammoth
(left)
.
Ancient is an understatement
for the 85.5-million-year-old
Cycad fossil. The dramatic
3D map of BC is the first to
be generated solely from
satellite images.
• 675 Belleville St,
Victoria
• Map P4
• 250 356 7226
• www.royalbc
museum.bc.ca
• Open 9am-5pm daily;
closed Jan 1 & Dec 25
• Adm: adults $12.50,
senior/youth/student
$8.70; under 6s free
Natural History Gallery
Realistic dioramas explore a range of environments,
from ocean to boreal forest, including the giant old-
growth forest that once covered coastal BC. One of the
best of a range of animals depicted in re-created habitats
is a grizzly bear, BC's largest land predator.
24
First Nations carvers in the carving studio enjoy sharing their
knowledge with visitors during the summer season
