Royal BC Museum, Victoria, BC, Guía del visitante y qué hacer cerca

The Royal BC Museum is the provincial museum and archives of British Columbia, set in the heart of downtown Victoria, just back from the Inner Harbour. It tells the story of the province through natural history, the history of its peoples and a large archive, and it sits beside some of the best-known sights in the city.

The story behind it

The museum grew out of the provincial museum established in Victoria in the 1880s, when the young province began collecting specimens, records and objects that described the land and the people who lived on it. Over time the collection widened from natural history to include the human history of British Columbia, and the provincial archives became part of the same institution.

The museum is closely tied to the Indigenous cultures of the coast. Next door is Thunderbird Park, where carved poles stand beside a ceremonial big house built in the early 1950s. The park grew from the museum's work with Indigenous carvers, who made new poles and helped keep the art form alive. Together, the museum and park make this one of the best places in the city to learn about First Nations heritage.

What to look for

• Look at the carved poles in Thunderbird Park beside the museum, and notice how each figure on a pole carries a meaning for the family that made it.
• Step into the natural history galleries to see how the museum presents the coast, forests and wildlife of British Columbia.
• Notice the Netherlands Centennial Carillon close to the museum, a tall bell tower that is easy to spot as you walk along Belleville Street.
• Take in the setting itself, with the Inner Harbour, the Parliament Buildings and the old streets of James Bay all within a few minutes on foot.

Tips for your visit

• Allow at least two hours if you want to go inside and see several galleries, and less if you only want to see the exterior and Thunderbird Park.
• Check current opening hours and which galleries are open before you go, as exhibits are updated from time to time.
• Thunderbird Park and the surrounding streets can be enjoyed outdoors, so a dry morning works well for combining them with the museum.
• The Inner Harbour, the Parliament Buildings and Beacon Hill Park are all within walking distance, so it is easy to build a half-day around the museum.

See it on a quest

The museum stands at the edge of James Bay, and Murder Mystery: Death in the Shadows in James Bay, Victoria is a good way to see it and the streets around it. You walk to the museum on foot as one stop on a longer route through the neighbourhood, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It suits a mystery lover who would rather explore than follow a tour guide. You can start whenever you like, and one ticket covers the whole group.