Vancouver Maritime Museum

Vancouver Maritime Museum Sharing stories of the Pacific Northwest and Arctic. National Historic Site of St. Roch.
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The Vancouver Maritime Museum is a great place for families and maritime enthusiasts to explore the maritime heritage of the Pacific Northwest and Arctic.

08/31/2026

Meet Lauren, our marketing assistant here at VMM! Her favourite object in the museum is the collection of scrimshaws🐋

Stay tuned for next week’s staff pick ⚓What’s your favourite item in the museum's collection?⬇️

A busy day at English Bay beach, circa 1920s. 🏖️This archival photograph captures English Bay looking east, with crowds ...
08/30/2026

A busy day at English Bay beach, circa 1920s. 🏖️

This archival photograph captures English Bay looking east, with crowds gathered along the shoreline. Even nearly 100 years ago, English Bay was clearly a popular place to spend a summer day.

Today, the beach remains one of Vancouver’s favourite places to enjoy the water, the sun and a little bit of city history. 🌊

📸 Image: English Bay beach, 1920s. Cyril R. Littlebury, 2000.1001.084. Vancouver Maritime Museum Collection.

⚓️ We’re heading to Port Day!Come say ahoy to the Vancouver Maritime Museum at Port Day at Canada Place this weekend! 🚢W...
08/27/2026

⚓️ We’re heading to Port Day!

Come say ahoy to the Vancouver Maritime Museum at Port Day at Canada Place this weekend! 🚢

We’ll be there celebrating Vancouver’s incredible maritime community and sharing a little bit of the stories, people and vessels that make our city’s waterfront so special.

Stop by our table, say hello to the team, and discover what’s happening at the Museum. We’d love to see you! 👋

📍 Canada Place
📅 Saturday, August 29th

(Aug 26, 1905): Amundsen Crosses the Northwest PassageOn August 26, 1905, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and the cr...
08/26/2026

(Aug 26, 1905): Amundsen Crosses the Northwest Passage

On August 26, 1905, Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and the crew of the Gjøa completed the first successful voyage through the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

The expedition had spent three years (1903-1906) navigating Arctic waters, including two winters frozen into the ice. When the crew finally reached open water, the lookout spotted a whaling ship from the Pacific. Amundsen immediately understood what it meant: they had made it through.

In his diary, Amundsen wrote:

“The North-West Passage was done. My boyhood dream — at that moment it was accomplished.”

During the expedition, Amundsen also learned from Netsilik Inuit communities, gaining knowledge of Arctic travel and survival that helped his crew navigate the challenging environment.

Decades later, the RCMP schooner St. Roch would navigate the Northwest Passage in both directions, including its historic west-to-east crossing from 1940–42.

Image: Captain Amundsen on his ship, the Gjøa, at Nome, Alaska, August 31, 1906. .999.034, Vancouver Maritime Museum Collections.

Happy National Dog Day 🐾 Before they were sled dogs, they were puppies!This archival photograph from Craig Harbour captu...
08/26/2026

Happy National Dog Day 🐾 Before they were sled dogs, they were puppies!

This archival photograph from Craig Harbour captures two young pups and an adult dog getting ready for sled training. Sled dogs have long been an important part of life and travel in the Arctic and continue to be an important mode of transportation in many northern communities today.

Today, we’re celebrating the hardworking, loyal and very good dogs who keep moving people and supplies across the North.

Image: Future Sled Dogs, Craig Harbour. VMM43.02.1.156. Vancouver Maritime Museum Collection.

From the Collections: This beautiful amautiq from Pangnirtung, South Baffin Island, showcases the artistry, practicality...
08/25/2026

From the Collections: This beautiful amautiq from Pangnirtung, South Baffin Island, showcases the artistry, practicality, and distinctive design of Inuit clothing traditions.

Made from layers of fabric and felt, the white amautiq features bold red, blue, and black appliqué details around the waist, wrists, tail, and hood. A large felt-lined hood is finished with a white fox fur trim, while woven blue and white bands add both function and decoration.

The amautiq is a traditional Inuit women's parka designed with a built-in pouch at the back for carrying a baby close to the body. Its design is both practical and carefully crafted, adapted to the northern climate while reflecting regional styles and artistic traditions.

This example was made in Pangnirtung in the South Baffin Island style.

Dive into our collections: vmmcollections.com

Amautiq. 2026.004.001a-d. Vancouver Maritime Museum Collection.

(Aug 22, 1925): Lady Cynthia Arrives in VancouverOn August 22, 1925, the Lady Cynthia arrived in Vancouver after being...
08/22/2026

(Aug 22, 1925): Lady Cynthia Arrives in Vancouver

On August 22, 1925, the Lady Cynthia arrived in Vancouver after being converted from the former Royal Navy minesweeper HMS Barnstaple into a passenger vessel for the Union Steamship Company of British Columbia.

Designed primarily for day travel, the Lady Cynthia carried passengers along the coast, serving communities and popular destinations throughout Howe Sound and the Sunshine Coast. She also became a familiar sight on excursions to Bowen Island, where the Union Steamship Company operated a popular resort.

With space for hundreds of passengers, the Lady Cynthia connected Vancouver with coastal communities at a time when many destinations were most easily reached by water. She remained in service for more than three decades before being withdrawn in 1956 and towed to Seattle for scrap in 1957.

Image: Lady Cynthia travelling up Howe Sound past Point Atkinson Lighthouse, Item no. 984.821. Vancouver Maritime Museum Collections.

We're honoured to be nominated for "Best Museum" on behalf of the Georgia Straight's 2026 Best of Vancouver awards! We s...
08/20/2026

We're honoured to be nominated for "Best Museum" on behalf of the Georgia Straight's 2026 Best of Vancouver awards! We sincerely appreciate your support 🤍 Can we count on your vote?

🗳️: https://fl6myeqzzm6.typeform.com/to/rardVe5S

08/20/2026

📻 Connecting the St. Roch

For the crew of the St. Roch, radio was more than technology, it was their lifeline to the outside world.

During the historic 1940–1942 Northwest Passage voyage, radio operator Dean Hadley sent weather reports, requested supplies, and kept the crew connected to the world beyond the ice.

In his own words, Dean recalls life as the St. Roch’s sole point of communication, including the importance of being careful what you said over the radio! 👀

🎙️ Hear Dean’s story in our latest video, then step aboard the St. Roch at the Vancouver Maritime Museum and imagine the voices that once travelled through its radio static.

From the Collections: This striking red duffle wall hanging brings together figures, animals, and scenes from Inuit life...
08/18/2026

From the Collections: This striking red duffle wall hanging brings together figures, animals, and scenes from Inuit life through bold shapes, colour, and intricate embroidery.

Made by Inuit artist Veronica Kadjuak Manilak in Kangiqiniq (Rankin Inlet), the hanging features two figures facing an igloo, surrounded by pairs of walruses, narwhals, polar bears, birds, and fish. The repeated forms and animals create a lively, balanced composition, while detailed embroidery frames the piece.

Duffle wall hangings like this reflect the rich textile traditions of Inuit artists and the use of wool, felt, and embroidery to tell stories and depict northern life.

Dive into our collections: vmmcollections.com

Duffle Wall Hanging. M975.35.6. Vancouver Maritime Museum Collection.

Address

1905 Ogden Avenue
Vancouver, BC
V6J1A3

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+16042578300

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