Kitimat Museum & Archives

Kitimat Museum & Archives Kitimat’s community museum for heritage, natural history, and visual arts & culture since 1968.

Offering multiple services to the community of Kitimat: audio-visual copying, research, still image use and photo reproduction, as well as offering local artists the opportunity to exhibit in the temporary gallery or sell their artwork on consignment.

Hard work in progress on Haisla Hill.In the continued spirit of Labour Day and the monumental effort it took to build ou...
09/05/2026

Hard work in progress on Haisla Hill.

In the continued spirit of Labour Day and the monumental effort it took to build our town, this archival photograph captures a major phase of local development: landscaping along Haisla Hill near the proposed new site for the Kitimat General Hospital, with roadwork still actively underway. Look closely below on the left, and you can spot familiar landmarks like Century House, the Hudson's Bay Store (Trigo's), and the Upper City Centre Mall, with the Kildala neighbourhood stretching out across the far background.

From shaping the roads to building our healthcare and commercial hubs, every corner of Kitimat bears the mark of dedicated hands.

Did you watch this area transform from raw hillside into the bustling heart of town?

Kitimat Museum & Archives: 2005.8.235

Paving the way forward—literally.With Labour Day just around the corner, we're recognizing the hard work and skilled han...
09/04/2026

Paving the way forward—literally.

With Labour Day just around the corner, we're recognizing the hard work and skilled hands that literally built Kitimat from the ground up. Captured here by photographer Mike Kinnear around May 24th, this historic moment shows crew members operating a heavy-duty Barber-Greene paving machine to lay down asphalt on Pintail Street.

From early infrastructure projects to the thriving community we have today, our town was built on the labour of dedicated workers like these.

Does anyone recognize this stretch of Pintail Street or remember the early paving days in your neighbourhood?

Kitimat Museum & Archives: 2005.8.960

Books in the air and two glorious months of freedom ahead—though if this scene feels a little too nostalgic right now, i...
09/03/2026

Books in the air and two glorious months of freedom ahead—though if this scene feels a little too nostalgic right now, it might be because the final countdown is officially on.

As we wrap up the very last week of summer vacation and gear up to head back to school next week, we're throwing it back to this classic snapshot of Kitimat school children celebrating the start of summer break. Captured in the moment are four local youngsters—(L to R) Lisa Lindeman, Cheryl Ulledal, Bob Guy, and Trevor Sandberg—giving their textbooks a joyful toss as roughly 2,500 students were let out for the holiday.

Who is ready (or maybe not quite ready) for the school bells to ring again next week?

Kitimat Museum & Archives: 2005.8.1960

The end of an era for Smeltersite School.This photograph captures the very last bus picking up students from the school ...
09/02/2026

The end of an era for Smeltersite School.

This photograph captures the very last bus picking up students from the school before its accommodations closed, sending youngsters off to existing schools like Kildala and Nechako starting the following September. Standing with his back to the camera is teacher Roy Wilcox—who would later become the principal of Whitesail Elementary School, which was eventually renamed in his honor as Roy Wilcox School.

Though the old school building was ultimately torn down in 1963, memories of the Smeltersite days live on in Kitimat's history. Did you or someone in your family ride the bus from Smeltersite?

Kitimat Museum & Archives: 2005.8.1896

Back in January 1955, Miss Olive Scott welcomed her brand new grade one class into one of the nine freshly completed cla...
09/01/2026

Back in January 1955, Miss Olive Scott welcomed her brand new grade one class into one of the nine freshly completed classrooms at Nechako School.

The start of that term marked a major milestone for Kitimat's youngest learners. Before these shiny new second-floor rooms opened, students had been making do with spare rooms over at Nechako Centre. Driven by a massive wave of young families moving to the burgeoning town, the grade one enrolment numbers surged dramatically from just 10 students in September 1954 to 45 at the start of 1955.

As the Northern Sentinel reported on January 13th, 1955: "It was a happy event for most [pupils], who enjoyed the fun of tramping over boardwalks, peeling off overboots before entering their smart, fresh surroundings."

Do you or a family member remember walking across those boardwalks to sit in Miss Scott's classroom?

Kitimat Museum & Archives: 2005.8.1569

Last Call for Artists! If you are a Kitimat-based artist, this is your last chance to be part of this October's communit...
09/01/2026

Last Call for Artists! If you are a Kitimat-based artist, this is your last chance to be part of this October's community art showcase!

This photo by Max Patzelt shows members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce - also known as the "Jaycees" - at the Haisla ...
08/21/2026

This photo by Max Patzelt shows members of the Junior Chamber of Commerce - also known as the "Jaycees" - at the Haisla Look-Out sign during one of their annual town clean-ups. The sign was created by Bill Diesing and presented to the town by the Chamber of Commerce. May 13th 1964.

Kitimat Museum & Archives: 1998.1.7897

Publicity photo taken by Max Patzelt for the Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic, showing five women and a man standing in fron...
08/20/2026

Publicity photo taken by Max Patzelt for the Red Cross Blood Donor Clinic, showing five women and a man standing in front of an Alcan helicopter, circa 1963. Hundreds of Kitimat residents generously donated blood, which was sent to Vancouver and issued to hospitals free of charge.

Kitimat Museum & Archives: 1998.1.920

In 1987, Max Patzelt donated his photograph and negative collection (over 10,000 images) to the Kitimat Museum. This tal...
08/20/2026

In 1987, Max Patzelt donated his photograph and negative collection (over 10,000 images) to the Kitimat Museum. This talented and prolific photographer operated Kitimat Photo Supply and Max's Photo Studio for over 25 years.

Originally from Germany, Max became a resident of Kitimat in 1956 when he was hired on at Alcan as a stud puller. He joined Kitimat Photo, the town's only industrial photography studio, and was soon "up to his ears in negatives" (Ingot, May 22, 1987). Max and his business partner Hazel Hatton opened Kitimat Photo Supply Ltd. in City Centre in 1960; he later moved the portrait studio to Service Centre, where it operated until 1987.

Bring a little colour home this summer. ☀️🌈Handcrafted by local artist Elaine Farina, these beautiful fused glass pieces...
08/06/2026

Bring a little colour home this summer. ☀️🌈

Handcrafted by local artist Elaine Farina, these beautiful fused glass pieces come to life when sunlight streams through your windows, filling your space with vibrant colours and warmth.

Whether you’re looking for a unique gift or a special piece to brighten your own home, these one-of-a-kind creations are a beautiful way to celebrate the season.

Visit the Kitimat Museum Gift Shop to discover Elaine’s collection and support local artistry. 💛

Address

293 City Centre
Kitimat, BC
V8C1T6

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 12pm - 4pm

Telephone

+12506328950

Website

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