Museums and Exhibits

Museums are shrines to history where young and old come together to learn from those that have walked and waged before them. Wander the quiet solitude of Victoria's and Vancouver Island’s museums and find yourself stepping back in time to a world totally unlike your own. Explore native culture, pioneer and maritime life, military and aviation history, famous personalities, marine mammals and even art.

Victoria has several exceptional museums, rated among the very best in North America, including the Royal British Columbia Museum. Its special exhibitions greatly contribute to its international acclaim and have included Empires Beyond the Great Wall: The Heritage of Genghis Khan; Leonardo da Vinci: Scientist, Inventor, Artist; Dragon Bones: When Dinosaurs Ruled China; and Eternal Egypt: Masterworks of Ancient Art from The British Museum. The major feature exhibition for 2008 is Free Spirit: Stories of You, Me and BC, celebrating 150 years since British Columbia became a crown colony.

Your imagination will be captured the minute you walk through the museum door. Exhibits are no longer stagnant displays behind glass, but exciting exhibits that bring human and natural history to life. Hands-on displays, live entertainment, multi-media features and off-site and on-line programs enrich the museum experience. Spend an afternoon or the whole night; in Victoria, courageous visitors can spend a night in one of several haunted museums that truly introduce you to the past.

Please see the Tourism Victoria member businesses for Museums and Exhibits. For a complete listing of all Tourism Victoria businesses, please visit our Business Directory.