…the Unbelievable Royal BC Museum

Ok, ok, ok. I promised to post a piece on the Royal BC Museum, but I’m running out of letters. So, sue me.

Anyway, across the street from the Legislative Buildings on one side, and the Empress Hotel on another , as well as kitty-corner from the Inner Harbour (see “L”, “E” and “I”) the Royal BC Museum was founded in 1886. The current building was built in 1968 (you can definitely tell it’s a 60’s build). The museum has 3 permanent galleries: The Natural History Gallery, the First Peoples Gallery, and the Modern History Gallery. And they have all kinds of different shows coming through regularly. Right now, if you were here, you could check out “Our Living Languages: First People’s Voices in British Columbia” (http://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/our-living-languages/) – I need to get to this before it leaves!! And coming up in May will be “Gold Rush: El Dorado in BC” (http://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/goldrush/).

In addition to the indoor galleries, you can also visit Thunderbird Park (see “T”) and Helmcken House and St. Ann’s School (see “H”), preserved outside, although it is a little jarring to see the 1800’s structures against the 1960’s metal and concrete.

I keep thinking I should become a member of the Gallery – I could save on entry fees and IMAX entry – it’s so close to our house, and have always loved museums.  Then maybe I would go more. Maybe this year…

Anyway, here is my walk around the museum!

The carillon

A few of these Native Plant Gardens ring the grounds

Websites of Interest

• Royal BC Museum website: http://royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/
• Royal BC Museum at Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_British_Columbia_Museum

Part of the April A to Z Challenge.