Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria, BC

Through research and education, we strive to broaden understanding about our province and inspire curiosity and wonder. We are passionate about sharing British Columbia's story with the millions of visitors who walk through our doors and explore our web site each year.

Our archives, exhibits and galleries change and grow as our understanding grows, and we endeavour to share our knowledge in original and exciting ways. Each exhibit and gallery tells important stories about British Columbia and provides an engaging and thought-provoking window on the province's past, present and future. Our archives provide a treasure trove of information for researchers and genealogists through the stories that are preserved here.
Since the early days of settlement in Victoria, the museum has collected and preserved the province’s significant artifacts and specimens for future generations. The museum was founded 1886 in response to a petition signed by 30 prominent citizens. It was housed in a single room adjoining the Provincial Secretary’s office in the Capital Buildings – nicknamed “the Bird Cages”. John Fannin, who was an avid outdoorsman and collector and gifted taxidermist was appointed as its first curator.
In 1977, The 12,000 Year Gap and First Peoples Galleries opened to the public, and in 1979, phase one of the permanent Natural History Galleries, Living Land, Living Sea, opened.
The Museum celebrated its Centennial in 1986, and since then has continued to grow – presenting exciting and popular temporary exhibits and completing the second phase of its Natural History Exhibits, Open Oceans.
On April 1, 2003, through the proclamation of a new Museum Act, the BC Archives, Helmcken House, the Netherlands Carillon, Thunderbird Park, St Ann’s Schoolhouse and the Royal BC Museum came together as the Royal BC Museum Corporation, creating a unique cultural precinct in the heart of British Columbia’s capital city.