The Maritime Museum of BC first opened its doors to the public in 1955 as a naval museum located on Signal Hill just outside the gates of the HMC Dockyard in Esquimalt. By 1965, the museum had outgrown the original location and found a new home in the former Supreme Court building in Bastion Square located in downtown Victoria − the oldest surviving Courthouse in British Columbia and still in operation today!
The Maritime Museum of BC represents a rich and vast link to the province’s legal and nautical roots. Here, among a superb array of artifacts, you will find fascinating displays on Pirates, Heritage Vessels, Shipwrecks and Featured Exhibits. It is also home to three sailboats − Dorothy, Trekka and Tilikum − each with their own incredible story of adventure and enchantment.
The museum cares for over 35,000 unique artifacts, in excess of 40,000 historical photographs and an internationally recognized chart collection. As well, the museum also runs popular public and school programs featuring such topics as immigration, pirates and privateers, women at sea and the fur trade.
We are giving away a Maritime Museum family pass to two winners! To enter to win, first check out the Maritime Museum website and then come back here and leave a comment with one cool fact about the Maritime Museum that you did not know before!
Rules: One entry per person, you must be 18 years of age or older & a Canadian citizen. We’ll pick a winner randomly. Contest ends Thursday March 10 at noon. Be sure to leave your email address- don’t worry, it wont be displayed. Plus, if you don’t see your comment right away- don’t fret, it is just awaiting clearance with moderators. Good luck Mateys!
Edited to add: Giveaway is now closed. Congrats to Siobhan & Melissa- each were randomly chosen to win a family pass to the Maritime Museum! Have fun!!!!
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I didn’t know they did birthday parties at the Maritime Museum! Had I known, I might have booked my son’s party there! He loves pirates!
Its been years since we’ve checked out the museum, it would be great to check it out again with March break coming up.
Here’s something I didn’t know:
Did you know the Tilikum, a small sail boat that sailed the world, started her life as a cedar dugout canoe?!
A Display on Photo Manipulation! That sounds very cool, and fascinating -we’ll be down and checking that out this Saturday before it ends!
I didn’t realize that the museum had a pirate school for kids in the Summer! What a great idea for a yucky weather day! This Summer now has a new outing to plan!
They have a renowned Pirate School! And it’s not just for kids. We’ll be checking that out this summer for sure! Arrrr matey!
I didn’t know that the maritime museum has a library. They actually have “Canada’s largest library of nautical archives”. They invite the public to do at research their library.
I didn’t realize just how many things that the museum offers! I’ve never gotten to go there (fairly new to town)… they have actual boats there, offer parties & camps, wow – so amazing. I’ve always wanted to go there, as the building has so much history.
I think it would be neat to check out that elevator!
I didn’t know of the wealth of facilities and programs avaialble through the Maritime museum. My boys would love to check out all the exhibits.
I did not know about the birthdays at the museum. What a wonderful, different way to celebrate your child’s birthday.
I didn’t know they produced a website on the “Graveyard of the Pacific” with a history of shipwrecks off Vancouver Island
I just went there with my son and I didn’t know, before we went, that they have amazing student rates and kids under 5 get in free (if I am remembering correctly). My son LOVES it there.
The antique elevator takes you up to a beautiful Victorian courtroom on the top floor, which is still used on occasion as a tax court.
I didn’t know they had such interesting school programs and holiday programs! I am definitely taking my two boys there over Spring Break!
I didn’t know about the elevator!
Thought this was reaaaallly neat.
This elevator ranked #2 in National Geographic’s book Journeys of a Lifetime, in the section Top 10 Elevator Rides. It even beat the Empire State Building, which ranked #4.
We’ve never taken our kiddo’s before, but now see’ing a trip is necessary!
didnt know they did parties and am booking one now