The Museum & Archives of Vernon

08/30/2026

This tropical turtle definetly did not grow wings, so how did it end up in Vernon?

Follow us as we uncover more interesting object stories!

08/28/2026

We are pleased to share that we are partnering with the Okanagan Historical Society Vernon Branch on a walking tour for BC Culture Days!

𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝘀: 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘁𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿

Saturday, September 26 | 1:00–3:00 p.m.
Starting location: Museum & Archives of Vernon, 3009 32nd Ave.

Join historian Marianne Fedori for a guided tour exploring the architectural styles of Vernon’s downtown buildings and the architects who designed them.
Discover how Vernon’s historic structures reflect the city’s growth and development, and learn to recognize the distinctive architectural features that make each building unique.

𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Full indoors, with walking on city sidewalks.
𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Required. Limited to 20 participants. Free, with an optional donation to the Museum & Archives of Vernon.
𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: https://culturedays.ca/en/events/74b3f042-7574-4c14-bb7b-56836755de1b

08/26/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our recent Hometown Histories speaker event with Don Gayton on August 22. We’re incredibly grateful that, despite the difficult circumstances our region has faced this summer, we were able to come together as a community to listen, learn, and support our neighbours impacted by wildfire.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁, 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 $𝟭,𝟯𝟰𝟬 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗕) 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱. Every ticket purchased and every additional donation helped contribute to this total, and we’re so grateful to everyone who helped make it possible.

We’d also like to extend our sincere thanks to Don Gayton for spending the afternoon with us and sharing his knowledge and perspective, particularly given the impacts of wildfire on his own community.

And thank you to the Vernon Branch of the Okanagan Historical Society, the Regional District of North Okanagan, and the BC Arts Council for helping make this event possible.

Most of all, thank you to everyone who showed up, listened, donated, and supported our neighbours. We’re grateful to have been able to come together as a community when it mattered. ❤️

08/23/2026

The Vernon Airport is celebrating 80 years at its current location! ✈️

But did you know Vernon once considered developing a larger regional airport north of Swan Lake? Take a look back at the plans, proposals, and changing priorities that shaped Vernon’s aviation history in our latest blog post.

A look back at the history of the Vernon Airport, from its early beginnings to its 80 years at its current location.

08/23/2026

What does inventorying work look like in a museum? 👀

We're taking you behind the Radio Shop door today to explore what it truly takes for each museum object to be kept in tip-top shape at the MAV.

Follow for part 2 and more museum fun!

08/20/2026

Over the past several weeks, communities across the Okanagan have faced the uncertainty and devastation of wildfires. Throughout it all, firefighters and emergency crews have worked tirelessly, often under incredibly difficult and dangerous conditions, to protect our homes, communities, and the people who live here.

To every firefighter, first responder, emergency worker, volunteer, and support crew who has spent long hours on the frontlines and behind the scenes: thank you.

We are deeply grateful for your dedication, your hard work, and the many hours you have given to helping keep our communities safe. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed.

📸: Firefighters with the Okanagan Landing Volunteer Fire Department in 1993. GVMA #29194.

08/18/2026

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄?

It's a fair question.

For many people across the Okanagan, wildfire is not an abstract topic. It has meant evacuation alerts, leaving home, uncertainty, loss, and tremendous disruption.

We also believe that difficult moments can remind us of the importance of listening, learning, and supporting one another.

On August 22, the Museum will welcome ecologist and author Don Gayton for a thoughtful conversation about fire, ecology, and the Okanagan landscape.
And we’re making sure the gathering gives back: 100% of event proceeds will be donated to the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) Wildfire Relief Fund.

If you feel ready, please join us.

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: August 22, 2026
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 1:00–3:00 PM
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Museum & Archives of Vernon
𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁: $20 — 100% of proceeds donated to OKIB. Register online at https://vernonmuseum.ca/events/speaker-series-don-gayton/.

08/16/2026

Don't mind us, just peeping into our permanent displays 🙈🙈

Want your own historical gossip? Come check out the MAV!

08/15/2026

Our friends at the Vernon Jazz Club are gearing up for another fabulous fall season. Here is there upcoming lineup:

➡Sept 12 - MONTUNO WEST: Afro-Cuban Latin Percussion Celebration
➡Sept 26 - JON BENTLEY QUARTET: Straight-Ahead Swinging Saxophone
➡Oct 17 - ARETHA TILLOTSON QUARTET: Young, Hip, Sophisticated Bass Virtuosity
➡Oct 31 - MAJOR MAMBO: Halloween Latin Dance Party
➡Nov - 14 WILD BLUE HERONS: Groove Heavy Jazz/Funk with Soulful Vocals
➡Nov 28 - ANTHONY D’ALESSANDRO QUARTET: Gershwin Tribute from Juno-Nominated Pianist
➡Dec 12 - CASEY THOMAS-BURNS: Swinging Sparkling Trombone & Vocals
➡Dec 31 - JUSTIN GLIBBERY SEXTET: Jazz, Blues and Pop ‘Til Midnight

📸: Montuno West, Jon Bentley Quartet, Aretha Tillotson Quartet, Major Mambo, Wild Blue Herons, Anthony D'Alessandro Quartet, Casey Thomas-Burns, and Justin Gliberry Sextet. All courtesy Vernon Jazz Club.

08/13/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲.

On August 22, acclaimed ecologist and author Don Gayton will join us to reflect on the ecological role of fire and the ways our relationship with the landscape has changed over time.

This conversation comes at a difficult moment for our region. We know that for many people, the experience of wildfire this year has been deeply personal. Our hope is to create space for thoughtful reflection and learning, while also finding a meaningful way to support those who have been most directly affected.

𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗸𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗱 (𝗢𝗞𝗜𝗕) 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱.

Presented in partnership with the Okanagan Historical Society and connected to our current exhibition, 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘻𝘦: 𝘈 𝘏𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘤 𝘓𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘍𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.

𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: August 22, 2026
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 1:00–3:00 PM
𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Museum & Archives of Vernon
𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁: $20 — 100% of proceeds donated to OKIB. Register online at https://vernonmuseum.ca/events/speaker-series-don-gayton/.