THE KOOTENAYS - British Columbia: Including the Alaska Highway - page 419

Nelson
The elegant city of Nelson (pop. 10,000) lies in a picturesque setting on the West Arm of
Kootenay Lake, 660 kilometers (410 miles) east of Vancouver. Its relaxed pace, hilly tree-
lined streets, and late-19th-century architectural treasures have helped attract a mix of jaded
big-city types, artists, and counterculture seekers. For visitors there is much to see and do
around town, many good places to eat, and an eclectic atmosphere unlike anywhere else in
the province. But while the city itself is uniquely charming, the surrounding wilderness of
the Selkirk Mountains is Nelson's biggest draw.
SIGHTS
Nelson has 350 designated heritage buildings, more per capita than any other city in
British Columbia save Victoria. Most can be viewed by walking around the downtown core
between Baker and Vernon Streets. Pick up the detailed Heritage Walking Tour or Heritage
Motoring Tour brochures from the information center. The walking-tour brochure details
26 downtown buildings, including the 1909 courthouse on Ward Street and the impressive
stone-and-brick 1902 city hall on the corner of Ward and Vernon Streets.
Touchstones Nelson
Named for an instrument used to test for the purity of precious minerals, Touchstones Nel-
son: Museum of Art & History (502 Vernon St., 250/352-9813, 10am-5pm Mon.-Sat.,
10am-4pm Sun. in summer, and 10am-6pm Wed.-Sat., 10am-4pm Sun. the rest of the year,
adult $8, senior $6, child $4) is in the historic stone post office building. The focus is on loc-
al history, with bright, modern displays covering First Nations, explorers, miners, traders,
early transportation, Nelson's contribution to World War I, and the Doukhobors.