The Royal British Columbia Museum draws exhibits from all around the world. Big exhibits come and go for a limited showing while some of the permanent displays depict the story of the First Nations people, the early miners, the lumberjacks and the gold miners, etc. These popular year round dioramas capture the story of our west coast history and wildlife the best.

The main draw for visitors is the authentic, periodic and cultural galleries within the museum's stone walls walking you through time and history depicting the humble beginnings of BC life and the development of the British Columbia people, wildlife, economies and civilizations.

Cave-like rooms connecting different realistic dioramas together, like a story book flipping pages, each telling a story of the rich history and creation of the Province of British Columbia. The Royal British Columbia Museum is a visual look into the regression, depression and progressive times of the west coast wildlife and the trials of man's survival in BC's rugged wilderness environments.

BC pioneers, towns and forests come alive in each Royal BC Museum diorama because the sounds, smells and sights come alive when walking through many of the museum's three-dimensional permanent display reproductions like the First Nations People Gallery, the Natural History Gallery and the Modern Era Gallery. Also the Royal BC Museum tells time-line sensitive stories including the cleansing and extinction of many species during the Ice Age, up to and including, the development of the human race in British Columbia.

The Royal British Columbia Museum First Nations Gallery is a world class exhibit with interactive displays, artifacts and a long house. A favourite is the First Nations ceremonial masks on display. The masks are mostly from the Kwakwaka'wakw era. The Crooked Peak of Heaven and Supernatural Raven masks were said to be the helpers of the Great Cannibal Spirit. Jonathan Hunt House, on the other hand, is sacred and was constructed in honor of the late Chief Kwakwabalasami of Fort Rupert.

The Modern Era History Gallery of the Royal BC Museum delves into the history of the historic arrival of the European and Chinese settlers to live amongst the First Nations people. A copy of the stern from the vessel HMS Discovery is on display. The famous boat belonging to Captain George Vancouver on his historic arrival to Nootka Sound on Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada.

The Modern Era History Gallery of the Royal BC Museum explores the mining and logging era of mankind on the west coast depicting the days of the gold mines and logging camps, the tools they used and the technology they invented to work their trade.

The Natural History Gallery, our favourite gallery by far because this gallery explores the environment and the changes of the natural scenery over the years in BC through the eyes of our forests and wildlife. The wilderness exhibit surrounds you with wildlife exploring the landscapes of BC from yesteryear as if time had stood still.

The gallery is always a quick reminder to us to appreciate the present environment and to try and be a little bit more environmentally conscious. The gallery has a beautiful, massive Woolly Mammoth guarding the museum gallery entrance. A Grizzly Bear hunts for food in one of the three-dimensional forest dioramas. And then there is the Ice age mammals.

The Royal British Columbia Museum is a great educational tour indoors discovering and understanding the past of our people, forests, oceans, wildlife and of our west coast communities in BC, Canada. The exhibits are world class and the location is central. A great place for families and children to spend some quality time together learning, looking and listening.

Tours are available and there is a price for admission at the door.

Often the waterfront walkway circling the marina, located outside the front doors of the museum just down the street, is busy with artists selling their talent and locals and visitors walking back and forth, from here to there. Since everything is so close together around the Inner harbour, many are on foot visiting the other nearby attractions like the gardens in Beacon Hill Park, the BC political scene at the Parliament Buildings or venture into the downtown core to the many shops and visit "Artist Alley".

Royal British Columbia Museum
675 Belleville Street, Victoria, Inner Harbour, (Telephone) 1-250-387- 3701