Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Surrounding the Museum
In front of the museum, the 27-meter (89-foot)
Netherlands Centennial Carillon
was
a gift to the city from British Columbia's Dutch community. The tower's 62 bells range
in weight from 8 to 1,500 kilograms (3,300 pounds) and toll at 15-minute intervals
7am-10pm daily.
On the museum's eastern corner, at Belleville and Douglas Streets, lies
Thunderbird
Park,
a small green spot chockablock with authentic totem poles intricately carved by
northwest coast First Nations people. Best of all, it's absolutely free.
Beside Thunderbird Park is
Helmcken House
(10 Elliot St., 250/361-0021, noon-4pm
daily in summer, donation), the oldest house in the province still standing on its original
site.ItwasbuiltbyDr.J. S.Helmcken,pioneersurgeonandlegislator,whoarrivedinVict-
oria in 1850 and aided in negotiating the union of British Columbia with Canada in 1870.
Inside this 1852 residence you'll find restored rooms decorated with Victorian period fur-
niture, as well as a collection of the good doctor's gruesome surgical equipment (which
will help you appreciate modern medical technology).
Parliament Buildings
Satisfy your lust for governmental, historical, and architectural knowledge all in one by
takingafreetouroftheharborside
Provincial Legislative Buildings,
a.k.a.theparliament
buildings.TheseprominentbuildingsweredesignedbyFrancisRattenburyandcompleted
in1897.TheexteriorisBritishColumbiaHaddingtonIslandstone,andifyouwalkaround
the buildings you'll no doubt spot many a stern or gruesome face staring down from the
stonework.
On either side of the main entrance stand statues of Sir James Douglas, who chose the
location of Victoria, and Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie, who was in charge of law and or-
der during the gold rush period. Atop the copper-covered dome stands a gilded statue of
Captain George Vancouver, the first mariner to circumnavigate Vancouver Island. Walk
through the main entrance and into the memorial rotunda, look skyward for a dramatic
view of the central dome, and then continue upstairs to peer into the legislative chamber,
thehomeofthedemocraticgovernmentofBritishColumbia.Freeguidedtoursareoffered
every 20 minutes, 9am-noon and 1pm-5pm daily in summer, less frequently (Mon.-Fri.
only) in winter. Tour times differ according to the goings-on inside; for current times, call
the
tour office
at 250/387-3046.
