Museum Focus
If you want to learn about the history of North Vancouver, you should definitely visit this facility. The museum’s collection covers North Shore development, industrial – especially shipbuilding – activity, the logging and lumber trade, transportation and the Port of Vancouver, and recreation in the North Shore mountains. A wide range of exhibits are showcased throughout the year. They cover the historical events that have coloured the growth of area communities, industry, and the waterfront.

Maybe a New Museum
Although there is a move afoot to build a new museum and archive facility, the current facility works out of three locations: the Community History Centre at 3203 Institute Road in Lynn Valley, housing the Archives Research Room, is open noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday; Presentation House Arts Centre, a shared space at 209 West 4th Street that houses the Museum Galleries, and the PGE Station at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue. There are numerous special public programs including walking tours, lectures and exhibitions presented by the museum throughout the year. Interested adults and kids can participate in hands-on workshops – things like constructing historic bug lamps or discovering holiday traditions.

The Collections
The museum’s artefact collections cover both community and industrial history in the North Vancouver area. Many pieces are associated with the waterfront and its associated industries like logging and lumber mills, and particularly tools from Burrard Drydock which for decades was North Vancouver’s largest employer. This collection will be of particular interest to those interested in maritime history. Historical domestic artifacts include furniture, kitchen equipment, commercial containers and papers from various local organizations. Costumes are also included. There are more than 40,000 historic photographs and 1,600 running feet of textual records at this fascinating museum.