What better way to get hundreds of artifacts and specimens into the hands of museum enthusiasts all over British Columbia than to actually put them there? Objects enter the handling collection in a number of ways: they may not be quite perfect; they may be replicas; they may have come to us without enough information or be part of a whole assortment of similar pieces.  However they got here, we’re happy to loan them to you.

Museum educators at the Royal BC Museum have used this handling collection for on-site and outreach programs—now it’s your turn. There are so many ways to put them to use: teachers can share artifacts and specimens with students; artists can use them as models; learners can study them. Whatever you use them for, we hope you’ll share your projects with us on our Learning Portal by creating a playlist.

The Handling Collection is not available for shipping. If you are able to pick up the materials in person, please reach out to Kim Gough using the contact information below to learn more. 

The archaeology handling collection comprises items and replicas made from rock, bone and other natural materials from early times in our history.

The botany handling collection comprises an extensive variety of indigenous, introduced and invasive species.

The entomology handling collection includes insects and arachnids from all across BC and other parts of the world.

The invertebrate handling collection comprises real and replica specimens of sea life from our coastal and inland waterways.

The modern history handling collection is composed of objects relating to the settler experience in homes, on farms, in schools and at work in British Columbia.

The paleontology handling collection comprises of two pre-packaged kits for classroom use. The first kit is Wood versus Fossil and contains a confounding selection of materials for learners to ponder over. The second kit is Cast versus Fossil and has examples of casts and real fossils for learners to compare and contrast. 

The vertebrate handling collection is composed of bird and mammal taxidermy, bones and skeletal articulations. Great for art projects or any study that requires looking at animals up close.