Stars have been forming since the Big Bang, and carry with them the fossil record of the conditions of the Galaxy at their birth. Reading this fossil record using the largest telescopes has allowed us to reconstruct the history of the Galaxy, as well as explore the origins of the chemical elements.

Total Solar Eclipses are a natural phenomenon that occur when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth casting a narrow shadow that rushes across parts of the planet plunging inhabitants along its path into a deep twilight. Totality reveals the sun’s gossamer corona, planets rarely seen in daytime and a host of effects including animal behaviour, changes in temperature and wind. Colour, clouds, weather and behaviours are all affected for periods of time ranging from a few seconds to seven minutes.

Join astronomer and author Jon Willis for a whistle-stop tour of the current state of the search for life beyond Earth.  Where should we be looking, what techniques should we use and what might we expect to find? Take a ride around the planets and moons of our own solar system before boldly striking out for the exoplanets that lie beyond.

Feature Length Tour: Join our friendly and informative guides in the lobby and embark on a special one-hour tour in the museum’s natural history galleries. Tours are included with same-day admission or membership.

The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (Victoria Centre) will host the celebrations for International Astronomy Day. Join us and explore the mysteries of the universe! Learn about the constellations through planetarium programs, look safely at the sun through a solar telescope, and participate in hands-on activities and presentations. Outdoor and indoor activities will be available.

In addition to the great ongoing interactive stations, a series of three lectures will take place in the Newcombe Conference Hall. 

Join our friendly and informative guides near the top of the escalators on the third floor and embark on a special sixty-minute tour in the museum’s modern history galleries. Tours are free with same-day admission or membership.

Seniors, this one-hour facilitated session is for you. Drop in , discuss, share and learn using objects from the Royal BC Museum's education collection. This program can also be booked for groups by contacting our booking office. 

Make a personal connection with a museum object and gain insight into a life question. A guide trained in the creative Museum Sage experience will help you use non-visual senses to find your piece. 

Tours begin at 3:00 pm and last approximately 30 minutes. 

How does it work?

Join our friendly and informative guides near the top of the escalators on the third floor and embark on a special sixty-minute tour in the museum’s modern history galleries. Tours are free with same-day admission or membership.

The Goldenberg Duo is a sister-brother team playing classical violin and piano. Susan Goldenberg is a violinist with the Kansas City Symphony; William Goldenberg, her brother, is distinguished professor of piano at Northern Illinois University. Together they have toured Scandinavia, China, Japan, Iberia, Australia, New Zealand, British Columbia, Ontario, France, Eastern Europe and Italy, and their recent venues include the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, DC. They now join us for a performance in our Becoming BC gallery's Old Town. 

Join our friendly and informative guides near the top of the escalators on the third floor and embark on a special sixty-minute tour in the museum’s modern history galleries. Tours are free with same-day admission or membership.

Robert Griffin, retired Royal BC Museum curator, and Richard Rajala, UVic historian, will discuss the research behind their new book on the history of forestry and the environment in BC.

A Canadian icon and hero, Terry Fox is an inspiration to all. Wonder Sunday will branch out of the exhibit to continue his legacy and promote hope. Join in with discussions on his life, the Marathon of Hope, and engage in activities relating to Terry Fox’s life.

Learn more

Snapshot Tour: Join our friendly and informative guides in the lobby and embark on a special thirty-minute tour in the museum’s Gold Rush gallery. Tours are included with same-day admission or membership.

Snapshot Tour: Join our friendly and informative guides in the lobby and embark on a special thirty-minute tour in the museum’s Gold Rush gallery. Tours are included with same-day admission or membership.

Spend Earth Day with Archaeology Collections Manager Dr. Genevieve Hill, Curator of Botany Dr. Ken Marr, Educator Hannah Morales and representatives from the Nature Conservancy of Canada. From place names and oral history, to artifacts, radiocarbon dates and plants, participants will learn about the ways in which Cowichan First Nations and their ancestors have long lived in this ecologically and culturally rich area.

Bring lunch and water, wear sturdy and suitable shoes and be prepared for rain.

Celebrate Earth Day and your community at the 6th annual Creatively United for the Planet Sustainability Showcase.

This popular event features a variety of local leaders and change-makers in action with displays, panels and workshops of interest to all ages. From food to forestry, art to education, and transportation to energy, this arts-and-culture event brings it all together under one roof. As well, enjoy an Electric Love In! - An Electric Car & Bike Extravaganza!

Presenters include:

Join our friendly and informative guides near the top of the escalators on the third floor and embark on a special sixty-minute tour in the museum’s modern history galleries. Tours are free with same-day admission or membership.

Celebrate Canadian cinema by attending the screening of films from the BC Archives and be part of a massive one-day, coast-to-coast-to-coast film festival. 

Come and have a look at how we saw ourselves, back in the middle of the 20th century. 

See for yourself where we usually keep those jars, boxes and bins, and experience the working environment of our talented researchers and staff. Tours are limited to 10 people. Sign up begins one hour prior to the tour start time.

This tour will focus on our Entomology collection and the wonderful world of insects.