Port Hardy Museum, Archives & Giftshop

09/30/2026

We are closed today at both locations in recognition of the National Day of Truth & Reconciliation.
🧡🧡🧡

09/29/2026

Thanks for your help!! The wallet has been returned!!

We have Gordon Smith’s wallet safely at visitor centre 🙂 can someone please let him know?

09/21/2026

We are sharing this call-out for Indigenous artists and artisans from the Kwa’lilas Hotel, Click through to learn more!

Calling all Indigenous artists and artisans! You’re invited to participate in the First Annual Indigenous Artisan Market at Kwa’lilas Hotel on Saturday, November 14, 2026, from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM.

Showcase and sell your artwork, handcrafted goods and creations while connecting with the community and fellow Indigenous artists.

The $25 registration fee includes:
• One table with linen
• Morning pastries
• Coffee, tea and water service

Spaces are limited, register today!

📍 Kwa’lilas Hotel, 9040 Granville Street, Port Hardy
📧 [email protected]
📞 250-230-5894

Gwasala Nakwaxdaxw Nations

09/14/2026

Good morning 🙂 we have located a Scotiabank card at our visitor centre location. Please stop by with your ID if you have misplaced it! We can keep it safe for you until then!

09/11/2026

We appreciate everyone's passion about community art in our last post! The District of Port Hardy has shared a statement about their project and we encourage folks to take a look and learn more.

For those with questions or further comments, please reach out to the District of Port Hardy:

Tel: 250 949 6665
Fax: 250 949 7433
Email: [email protected]

A New Chapter for a Port Hardy Mural!🎨

For many years, the mural has been a familiar part of Market Street. Residents and visitors have stopped to take in the story it told and the history it represented. While it has been a constant part of our downtown, the mural had become significantly weathered and deteriorated beyond repair or restoration.

So, we looked to our community to help imagine what could come next.

This past spring, local youth, seniors, community groups and stakeholders came together through a series of engagement sessions to share their thoughts and ideas about what makes Port Hardy home — what makes our community unique, special, and worth celebrating.

Those conversations shaped the vision for the new mural.

From the colours to the elements, the design is inspired by life in Port Hardy. It speaks to our collective strength, resilience, and growth, while celebrating the connections that make our community. A place of shared history and culture, together connected — to the land, to the sea, to the wildlife, and to each other.

Throughout the design process, local artist Johnny Henderson has worked closely our team. Johnny's experience and expertise has helped guide the design through each rendition. As it takes it's final shape, we know each piece of Johnny's will beautifully complete the mural and the story is tells.

While change can be hard, we know that residents will come to love and appreciate the new mural in time. This new mural represents a new chapter — one shaped by the voices, ideas and experiences of our community.

We hope you’ll see a little bit of Port Hardy in it, and perhaps a little bit of yourself.

Stay tuned as this new piece of our community comes to life! 🎨

08/31/2026

New Exhibit for kids at the Port Hardy Museum!

08/28/2026

Are you air-minded? Are your eyes always on the birds overhead? Well, you are not alone. Meet the brilliant Lilian Bland!

In 1911 Bland became the first woman in the world to design, build, and fly her own powered aircraft. Did you know that this important historical figure lived in the remote community of Quatsino on Northern Vancouver Island.

During the early days of aviation, people flocked to home-built airplanes. These flimsy structures fulfilled an eons long human dream — to fly. 18 years before Amelia Earhart would make her transatlantic journey, Lilian Bland was studying diagrams of airplanes and designing her plane the Mayfly in her uncle's workshop.

Since youth, Bland was never one to be confined to society’s rules. She is remembered as sarcastic and passionate, always chasing after what she wanted, despite push-back.

This new exhibit explores her early life pursuing photography, her days as an aviatrix, and her time as a homesteader in Quatsino.

The Exhibit “The Woman Who Soared, The Brilliant Lilian Bland” was curated by Wren Springle (Curatorial Assistant, YCW). This exhibit was made possible with the aid of The Quatsino Museum and Archives and the Lilian Bland Website.

Other contributors from our team include Robin Folvik (Curator/Executive Director), Brie Watson (Associate Curator), Ashley Cadwallader (Assistant Manager of Visitor Services), Danya Gorodetsky (Education Programmer), and Kiara Benjamin (Community Engagement Assistant).

The Port Hardy Museum and Visitor Centre is operated by the Port Hardy Heritage Society, a non-profit organization. For more information about latest activities, exhibits or how to support the organization, visit https://www.porthardymuseum.com/

The exhibit will be on display until August 2027, and we welcome visitors and community members to view it.

08/25/2026

Meet Archie the Archivist and Piper! Later this week, Archie and Piper will be here at the museum to guide kids through many of our exhibits. Keep an eye out for the official launch of the family-friendly self guided museum tour.

You’ll discover the richness of local history and explore everything from floating houses to giant crabs and giant chainsaws.

The Archie and Piper self-guided museum trail has been written, designed and illustrated using original art and ideas by Danya Gorodetsky. We are proud to certify that AI was not used for any part of this or any other exhibits at the museum.

08/24/2026

New at the museum!

Thinking about visiting the museum with your family, bringing your K-12 class, or have ideas on making our space more kid-friendly?

Meet Danya Gorodetsky, our summer education programmer! She is hard at work creating fun new workshops for school groups and a self-guided tour for kids and families. She is with us through the end of August and would love to connect with you.

Feel free to message us here on Facebook, send an email to [email protected], or swing by the museum or visitor centre between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday, to chat with Danya in person.

We hope to hear from you soon!

08/19/2026

We will be closed at both locations (museum and visitor centre) tomorrow, August 20th, for a staff event. We apologize for the disruption in services, but we will be back at both locations on August 21st.

Please see Visit Port Hardy's webpage or the kiosk at our visitor centre (7250 Market street) for community information. We also have brochures and maps outside our building, next to the public washrooms.

Thank you for your understanding!