Helmcken House was built by Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, a surgeon with the Hudson’s Bay Company. It is one of the oldest houses in British Columbia still on its original site. St. Ann’s Schoolhouse, built in 1844 in the HBC’s Red River style, may be the oldest building still standing in Victoria. Visit these two exceptional heritage buildings for a peek into Victoria’s past.

Some of the most exciting stories are found right here in BC. Indigenous families, early European explorers, colonial settlers, gold rush prospectors, immigrants, women, children, adventurers and more all come alive in the Archives. Read their diaries, view their photograph albums, retrace their steps on hand-drawn maps, and imagine what it was like to live their lives. These original records inspire some of the best stories in the library; learn about the BC Archives as part of the Greater Victoria Public Library Summer Reading Program.

Join us at 2:00 pm in the Our Living Languages exhibition (third floor) for a cedar-weaving workshop. You will have the opportunity to learn about the different uses of cedar, find out how it is harvested and make your own cedar rose to take home with you.

Helmcken House was built by Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, a surgeon with the Hudson’s Bay Company. It is one of the oldest houses in British Columbia still on its original site. St. Ann’s Schoolhouse, built in 1844 in the HBC’s Red River style, may be the oldest building still standing in Victoria. Visit these two exceptional heritage buildings for a peek into Victoria’s past.

See for yourself where we usually keep those jars, boxes and bins and experience the working environment of our talented researchers and staff. This tour will focus on our entomology collection and how these collections help us to learn about our province.Tours are limited to 10 people. Sign up begins at the information desk in the main lobby one hour prior to the tour start time.

Destination Canada has identified these amazing tours as a Canadian Signature Experience.

See for yourself where we usually keep those jars, boxes and bins and experience the working environment of our talented researchers and staff. This tour will focus on our mammal collection and how these collections help us to learn about our province.Tours are limited to 10 people. Sign up begins at the information desk in the main lobby one hour prior to the tour start time.

Destination Canada has identified these amazing tours as a Canadian Signature Experience.

Helmcken House was built by Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, a surgeon with the Hudson’s Bay Company. It is one of the oldest houses in British Columbia still on its original site. St. Ann’s Schoolhouse, built in 1844 in the HBC’s Red River style, may be the oldest building still standing in Victoria. Visit these two exceptional heritage buildings for a peek into Victoria’s past.

Everyone is welcome to belly-up to the local saloon in Old Town, located in our Becoming BC exhibition, for some musical fun with our player piano and to learn about the history of alcohol in British Columbia. 

From the fascinating to the scandalous, this short performance spans the decades from the golden age of saloons to the prohibition.

Join us at 2:00 pm in the Our Living Languages exhibition (third floor) for a cedar-weaving workshop. You will have the opportunity to learn about the different uses of cedar, find out how it is harvested and make your own cedar rose to take home with you.

Helmcken House was built by Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, a surgeon with the Hudson’s Bay Company. It is one of the oldest houses in British Columbia still on its original site. St. Ann’s Schoolhouse, built in 1844 in the HBC’s Red River style, may be the oldest building still standing in Victoria. Visit these two exceptional heritage buildings for a peek into Victoria’s past.

Join our friendly and informative guides and embark on a special sixty-minute tour in the museum’s modern history galleries. Tours are free with same-day admission or membership. Meet near the escalator, to the right (west side) of the Box Office in the main floor lobby.

Explore Ancient Egypt through the eyes of archaeologists. Campers will engage in hands-on activities and games, fun field trips, and conversations with guest speakers while learning how archaeologists use artifacts and architecture to understand past human lives, all within the exhibition Egypt: The Time of Pharaohs.

Can you dig it?

Ages 10-14

Before- and after-camp care available

Join Provincial Carillonneur Rosemary Laing as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary year of the Netherlands Centennial Carillon. Bring a picnic and settle into the Native Plant Garden to enjoy live music played on Canada's largest carillon. 

Everyone is welcome to belly-up to the local saloon in Old Town, located in our Becoming BC exhibition, for some musical fun with our player piano and to learn about the history of alcohol in British Columbia. 

From the fascinating to the scandalous, this short performance spans the decades from the golden age of saloons to the prohibition.

Helmcken House was built by Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, a surgeon with the Hudson’s Bay Company. It is one of the oldest houses in British Columbia still on its original site. St. Ann’s Schoolhouse, built in 1844 in the HBC’s Red River style, may be the oldest building still standing in Victoria. Visit these two exceptional heritage buildings for a peek into Victoria’s past.

Helmcken House was built by Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, a surgeon with the Hudson’s Bay Company. It is one of the oldest houses in British Columbia still on its original site. St. Ann’s Schoolhouse, built in 1844 in the HBC’s Red River style, may be the oldest building still standing in Victoria. Visit these two exceptional heritage buildings for a peek into Victoria’s past.

See for yourself where we usually keep those jars, boxes and bins and experience the working environment of our talented researchers and staff. This tour will focus on our mammal collection and how these collections help us to learn about our province.Tours are limited to 10 people. Sign up begins at the information desk in the main lobby one hour prior to the tour start time.

Destination Canada has identified these amazing tours as a Canadian Signature Experience.

Helmcken House was built by Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, a surgeon with the Hudson’s Bay Company. It is one of the oldest houses in British Columbia still on its original site. St. Ann’s Schoolhouse, built in 1844 in the HBC’s Red River style, may be the oldest building still standing in Victoria. Visit these two exceptional heritage buildings for a peek into Victoria’s past.

Helmcken House was built by Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, a surgeon with the Hudson’s Bay Company. It is one of the oldest houses in British Columbia still on its original site. St. Ann’s Schoolhouse, built in 1844 in the HBC’s Red River style, may be the oldest building still standing in Victoria. Visit these two exceptional heritage buildings for a peek into Victoria’s past.

Join us at 2:00 pm in the Our Living Languages exhibition (third floor) for a cedar-weaving workshop. You will have the opportunity to learn about the different uses of cedar, find out how it is harvested and make your own cedar rose to take home with you.