Nanaimo Museum

Call Directions Website Contact the 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.

👻Haunted Lantern Tours are now SOLD OUT! 👻 Thank you so much to everyone who purchased tickets to this year’s Haunted Na...
10/20/2026

👻Haunted Lantern Tours are now SOLD OUT! 👻

Thank you so much to everyone who purchased tickets to this year’s Haunted Nanaimo Lantern Tours! The tours are fully sold out for the season.
If you didn’t manage to get a spot this year, please consider joining our mailing list, following our Facebook or Instagram pages, or becoming a member - members get early access and discounts on programs like this!

Learn more at https://nanaimomuseum.ca/

A Glimpse of India: Diwali Celebration Join us for a Diwali Celebration from 1-3:30pm on Saturday, November 7th at Nanai...
10/20/2026

A Glimpse of India: Diwali Celebration

Join us for a Diwali Celebration from 1-3:30pm on Saturday, November 7th at Nanaimo Museum! Participate in the celebration, watch talented local artists perform, make a diya lamp craft, and purchase food and goods from local South Asian vendors. Everyone is welcome!



Admission is free, and this event is fun for all ages. Please register in advance at the link below.


This community event is created in partnership with: the Rang South Asian Arts and Culture Society, the Central Vancouver Island Multicultural Society, Vancouver Island Bhangra, the City of Nanaimo, and the Nanaimo Museum.



https://nanaimomuseum.ca/events/diwali-market-2026/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=community_events_diwali


10/20/2026

Get your tickets now for Meadows of Stone, Sunday, November 8th.

Meadows of Stone is based on a true WWI story of a woman whose brother, a Canadian soldier, went missing during the war, and her journey to find him.

Tickets: porttheatre.com/events/meadows-of-stone-2026
Date: November 8, 2:00pm
Event Length: 110 Minutes
Venue: Nanaimo Museum

This show sold out within 12 hours of ticket release, but an additional set of tickets will be available today at 11am!

Presented by
Vancouver Island Military Museum, Nanaimo Museum & The Port Theatre

Fair Adventurer, the cavern has filled with Banishment Spells, but we still need more to be able to defeat the curse! Co...
10/19/2026

Fair Adventurer, the cavern has filled with Banishment Spells, but we still need more to be able to defeat the curse! Copy all five symbols to complete your spellcard. Then, banish the villain who has cursed the Museum with these shiny, sparkly crystals!

Kids' Case Files: The Curse of Crystal Cavern is available from October 1-31 from 10am-4pm Tues-Sat, and is included with admission by donation. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult at all times.

https://nanaimomuseum.ca/events/halloween2026/?utm_source=social&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=halloween_series

Joy Bremner, Métis Knowledge Keeper / Elder, is leading the upcoming Métis Beading: Poppy Pin at Nanaimo Museum on Satur...
10/17/2026

Joy Bremner, Métis Knowledge Keeper / Elder, is leading the upcoming Métis Beading: Poppy Pin at Nanaimo Museum on Saturday, November 7, from 12:30-3:30pm.

Joy was born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, both of her parents Métis. The Métis Culture has been with her throughout her life, as well as many First Nations friends while living across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Yukon and then settling on Vancouver Island.

Mentored by numerous Métis Old Ones (Elders) within many communities, Joy has shared her Métis cultural knowledge at Gatherings, workshops, and educational institutes with Métis youth and the general public. Joy practices a wide range of activities, including beading, porcupine quill work, moose hair tufting, leatherwork, traditional foods, medicines, weaving, and the list goes on.

To join Joy for the Métis Beading: Poppy Pin Crafternoon, follow the link below and book your ticket now! This Crafternoon costs $50 per person, and is open to everyone aged 15+. This workshop is open to everyone; it is not restricted to participants of Métis heritage.

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

The Mid-Island Métis Nation and the Nanaimo Museum invite you to join us to celebrate Métis heritage!On Saturday, Novemb...
10/16/2026

The Mid-Island Métis Nation and the Nanaimo Museum invite you to join us to celebrate Métis heritage!

On Saturday, November 14th from 11:00-2:00pm, visit the Nanaimo Museum gallery to enjoy the festivities including fiddle music, history information, genealogy, storytelling, information tables & displays, a reading corner and more!

The event begins at 11:00am and the activities will run until 2:00pm. Hope to see you there!

What’s this? A black cat crossing your path! Don’t worry, not only are they not bad luck, but you can also get a prize i...
10/15/2026

What’s this? A black cat crossing your path! Don’t worry, not only are they not bad luck, but you can also get a prize if you find all 13 black cats in this October’s I Spy: Black Cats activity!

I Spy: Black Cats is available from October 1-31 from 10am-4pm Tues-Sat, and is included with admission by donation. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult at all times.

Halloween 2026 | The Curse of Crystal Cavern - Nanaimo Museum

We're closed today, October 12th, for Thanksgiving Day. We will be back open again tomorrow at 10am-4pm!
10/12/2026

We're closed today, October 12th, for Thanksgiving Day. We will be back open again tomorrow at 10am-4pm!

Indigenous Veterans’ Day is observed on November 8th each year across Canada.Check out the links below to learn more abo...
10/10/2026

Indigenous Veterans’ Day is observed on November 8th each year across Canada.

Check out the links below to learn more about Indigenous Veterans, and to join Métis Knowledge Keeper / Elder Joy Bremner for a Métis cultural workshop at Nanaimo Museum! On Saturday, November 7 from 12:30-3:30pm, Joy will lead participants in creating their own beaded Poppy pin.

All materials will be provided. No experience necessary. This workshop is open to everyone; it is not restricted to participants of Métis heritage.

Ages: 15+

Tickets: $50 per person, and pre-registration is required.

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

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