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.

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!

Going downtown this weekend? The Bastion will be open! Come on down and check it out.Admission is FREE, but donations ar...
08/29/2026

Going downtown this weekend? The Bastion will be open! Come on down and check it out.

Admission is FREE, but donations are always welcome!

The winners for this year's Nanaimo Museum Haunted Lantern Tour Giveaway are...drumroll please...Eva Fras and Lisa Yelto...
08/28/2026

The winners for this year's Nanaimo Museum Haunted Lantern Tour Giveaway are...drumroll please...

Eva Fras and Lisa Yelton!

The winners will be contacted shortly to be able to claim their prize.

Thank you to all those who participated, and to all those that came out to visit our booth during the Night Market. We had a blast this year, and we hope you all did too!

Didn't win the tickets? No problem! Ticket sales open up soon, you can see the link below for more info!

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

The Community Gallery is coming down on September 7th, so now is your final chance to view your favorite pieces!⁠Heritag...
08/28/2026

The Community Gallery is coming down on September 7th, so now is your final chance to view your favorite pieces!
⁠
Heritage Art pairs artists across different media to create complementary pieces based on historic Nanaimo buildings & areas. This year’s theme is “Then and Now”, exploring previous uses of locations & comparing them to what is currently at those sites. Vote for your favourite piece in our people’s choice award!⁠
⁠
The Community Gallery is located just beside our lobby, and is free to view from Tues-Sun, 10am-4pm (and until 9pm during night markets).

Add some colour to these critters at the final Commercial Street Night Market of the year!Visit Nanaimo Museum’s booth t...
08/27/2026

Add some colour to these critters at the final Commercial Street Night Market of the year!

Visit Nanaimo Museum’s booth this Thursday and explore the museum gallery while you’re here. Entry is FREE during the night market.

Make like a worm and wiggle your way down to the Museum to find the 12 Garden Buds hanging out in the Museum this summer...
08/26/2026

Make like a worm and wiggle your way down to the Museum to find the 12 Garden Buds hanging out in the Museum this summer! Bees and beetles, and ferns and flowers are hidden throughout the exhibits for I Spy: Garden Buds. Try to spot them all!

I Spy: Garden Buds is available 10am-4pm, Tues-Sun (until 9pm on Thursdays!) from July 1-September 7. It’s fun for all ages and included with admission by donation.

https://nanaimomuseum.ca/events/i-spy-garden-buds/

Now's the time to get your tickets!Join Métis Knowledge Keeper / Elder Joy Bremner for a Métis cultural workshop at Nana...
08/26/2026

Now's the time to get your tickets!

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

Alexander McCrory with his daughter, Sandra, in Harewood, with their produce entry for the fall fair, 1952 Credit: Nanai...
08/25/2026

Alexander McCrory with his daughter, Sandra, in Harewood, with their produce entry for the fall fair, 1952

Credit: Nanaimo Archives 2018.019A-P82

Joy Bremner, Métis Knowledge Keeper / Elder, is leading the upcoming Métis Beading: Orange Shirt Pin Crafternoon at the ...
08/22/2026

Joy Bremner, Métis Knowledge Keeper / Elder, is leading the upcoming Métis Beading: Orange Shirt Pin Crafternoon at the Nanaimo Museum on Saturday, September 12, 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: Orange Shirt Pin Crafternoon, follow the link below and book your ticket now! This Crafternoon costs $50 per person, and is open to everyone aged 15+.

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

The Bastion is OPEN this weekend! Who are you planning to bring along as your ? If you take a selfie while touring, be ...
08/22/2026

The Bastion is OPEN this weekend! Who are you planning to bring along as your ?

If you take a selfie while touring, be sure to use the tag to show off your visit and tell us your favorite part. We’d love to see!

Admission is FREE, but donations are always welcome!

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

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