Nanaimo Museum

Nanaimo Museum The Nanaimo Museum is a dynamic community facility offering diverse interpretive programming Community Posting Guidelines: www.nanaimomuseum.ca/smguidelines

Discover Nanaimo’s fascinating history in Nanaimo's local history museum, located in the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. The main gallery offers a sense of what life was like for Nanaimo's earliest settlers and the Snuneymuxw First Nation. Our award-winning replica coal mine can be viewed by lantern light, and our fabulous gift shop is full of unique items for all ages. The museum manages the

Bastion, an original Hudson's Bay Company post, built in 1853. The Bastion is a local icon that has endured many challenges since the founding of Nanaimo, British Columbia’s third oldest city. Today, this former Hudson's Bay Company building is the last standing wooden Bastion of this kind in North America.

Last long weekend of summer, last long weekend to explore all the Nanaimo Museum has to offer for this season! Here's a ...
09/04/2026

Last long weekend of summer, last long weekend to explore all the Nanaimo Museum has to offer for this season!

Here's a look at everything that's going to be going away soon, so make the most of this weekend; come down to the Nanaimo Museum and check it all out!

If you'd like more information about anything, you can check out out site: https://nanaimomuseum.ca/

Haven't seen Grow Nanaimo yet? Come check it out before it's too late!Saturday, April 11 – Monday, September 7. 2026⁠⁠Fa...
09/03/2026

Haven't seen Grow Nanaimo yet? Come check it out before it's too late!

Saturday, April 11 – Monday, September 7. 2026⁠
⁠
Farming and food security are important topics of conversations today, and in the past. Grow Nanaimo features stories of culturally diverse farmers, coal mining company farms, and the story of Five Acres, now known as Harewood. Take a seat in the outhouse interactive and be privy to the secrets of the night soil scavengers and check out the greenhouse activities. The stories in Grow Nanaimo encourage us to think about ways we have worked with the land and grown food in the past - how can reflecting on the past inform our discussions today?🌱⁠
⁠
To learn more about the exhibit visit: https://nanaimomuseum.ca/featured-exhibit/grow-nanaimo/⁠
⁠
This exhibit is produced with generous support from the Stanley de Vos Fund at Nanaimo Foundation

Last chance to grab your tickets, the first Crafternoon is next Saturday!⁠ We just need 2 more folks to register to make...
09/01/2026

Last chance to grab your tickets, the first Crafternoon is next Saturday!⁠ We just need 2 more folks to register to make this Crafternoon happen!

Join Métis Knowledge Keeper / Elder Joy Bremner for a Métis cultural workshop at Nanaimo Museum! On Saturday, September 12 from 12:30-3:30pm, Joy will lead participants in creating their own beaded Orange Shirt pin, using one of two available patterns.

Orange Shirt Day, also known as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, is observed annually on September 30th in Canada. Orange shirts are worn throughout the year during events to honour all Indigenous children.

All materials will be provided. No experience necessary.

Ages: 15+

Tickets: $50 per person, and pre-registration is required. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable to other dates or programs. A minimum of 10 guests is required for this program to proceed.

https://nanaimomuseum.ca/events/crafternoon-orange-shirt-pin-2026/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=crafternoon_series

Who were Brother XII’s followers? The Brother XII’s Followers presentation, led by curator Aimee Greenaway, explores the...
09/01/2026

Who were Brother XII’s followers? The Brother XII’s Followers presentation, led by curator Aimee Greenaway, explores the stories behind the people who supported one of the most infamous cult leaders in Canadian history, including what happened to them after the colony collapsed. From stories of a family deeply rooted in cults and a wealthy American heiress to new stories revealed in the 1931 census. Brother XII’s rapid rise and fall into high-profile court cases, scandals and conspiracy theories will be touched upon to shed light on his followers' experiences. Stories and photos provide insight into this infamous and controversial chapter in Nanaimo’s history.

The presentations take place from 6:30-7:30pm at the museum on Wednesday, October 14 and Wednesday, October 21. Tickets cost $10 per person and pre-registration is required.
To pre-register or find out more information, go to

https://nanaimomuseum.ca/events/broxii2026/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=tours-broxii

Brave the dark and the dearly departed this October in Nanaimo! Join us for a Haunted Nanaimo Lantern Tour for tales o...
09/01/2026

Brave the dark and the dearly departed this October in Nanaimo!

Join us for a Haunted Nanaimo Lantern Tour for tales of mysterious apparitions, spooky locations, and objects that seem to have a mind of their own. On select evenings in October, join us for this mostly outdoor walking tour of downtown to hear about the darker side of Nanaimo’s history while visiting local landmarks. The tour is approximately 90 minutes long.

Select evenings October 3-30, 6:30-8:00pm.

Tickets cost $15 per person. (Max 4 for online purchase, guests can call us if they would like to purchase more than 4)

Ages 12+ recommended for mature content and tour length.

Use the link below to book your tickets now!

https://nanaimomuseum.ca/events/lt2026/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=tours-lantern

Books? Check. Pencils? Check. Paper? Check. Signing up for the Educator Newsletter from the Nanaimo Museum? Check! Teac...
08/31/2026

Books? Check. Pencils? Check. Paper? Check. Signing up for the Educator Newsletter from the Nanaimo Museum? Check!

Teachers, if you want to stay up to date with all the programs available to your students, all ProD events happening, field trip add-ons and much more, then consider subscribing to our quarterly Educator Newsletter. We send out a few editions over the course of the year, and each is packed with information!

https://mailchi.mp/f03abbd222ab/nanaimomuseumschool

UPDATE: We are back up and running today (Tues Sep 1!) Thank you for your patience while we sort through the backlog of ...
08/31/2026

UPDATE: We are back up and running today (Tues Sep 1!) Thank you for your patience while we sort through the backlog of emails :)

Microsoft Outlook is down in many places today, and we are unfortunately one of the affected businesses!

We cannot currently access our emails, but you can call us at 250-753-1821 if you need assistance.

We will post here again when emails are back up, and return your messages as soon as possible once we have access again.

Thank you for your patience while Microsoft solves this issue.

Have some artistically talented little ones? Bring them down to Grow Nanaimo where they can let their colours shine at t...
08/31/2026

Have some artistically talented little ones? Bring them down to Grow Nanaimo where they can let their colours shine at the ‘Nanaimo Bar-Dew Valley’ farm mural!

Older kids have plenty of other opportunities to get engaged as well! We have interactive activities including a Lego garden-building station and a pretend outhouse that they can explore at their own pace while they tour the Grow Nanaimo exhibit.

Grow Nanaimo runs until September 7th and is included with your admission by donation.

08/29/2026

The bugs took a well deserved spa day after playing in the compost all summer long! Get lost in the Bug-ble bath ASMR as our crawly friends get clean 🐛🦗🧼🛁

You still have time to visit Grow Nanaimo and make some compost with the Kids' Case Files: The Compost Caper, which both go on until September 7, 2026 and are included with admission by donation!

Address

100 Museum Way
Nanaimo, BC
V9R2X1

Opening Hours

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

Telephone

250.753.1821

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Nanaimo Museum posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to Nanaimo Museum:

Shortcuts

Share

Category