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Museum · Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo Museum
City history museum downtown, covering the Hudson’s Bay Company era, coal mining, a miner’s house and a steam locomotive. It also manages the Bastion.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Nanaimo Museum
The Nanaimo Museum tells the city’s story, from its origins on Snuneymuxw territory to the port city it is today. It opened in 1967 as a Canada Centennial project and now occupies a building in the downtown area, next to the convention centre.
The permanent exhibitions cover the Hudson’s Bay Company era, which began extracting coal there in 1852, and the lives of miners, including a miner’s house and a steam locomotive. The museum also preserves the story of the Nanaimo bar, the dessert named after the city, and hosts temporary exhibitions.
The museum manages the Bastion, the company’s wooden tower on the waterfront, a few minutes’ walk away. Together they give a good sense of how the city began.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
1 to 2 hours.
Best time
Any time of year; on a rainy day it’s a good option in the downtown area. Confirm opening days before you go.
How to get there
In downtown Nanaimo, a few minutes’ walk from the waterfront and the Bastion.
Tip
Visit the museum before the Bastion and Saysutshun Island: the coal history helps explain both places.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Nanaimo Museum
What is there to see at the Nanaimo Museum?
The city’s history, including the Hudson’s Bay Company era, coal mining, a miner’s house and a steam locomotive, as well as temporary exhibitions.
Does the Nanaimo Museum talk about the Nanaimo bar?
Yes. The museum preserves the history of the sweet and the earliest cookbooks in which it appeared, in the 1950s.
How long does the visit take?
One to two hours. You can combine it with the Bastion, which the museum manages, a few minutes’ walk away.