Museum of Vancouver

Overview

The Museum of Vancouver explores the city's history from its origins as unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh territory through colonial settlement to its present-day identity. It occupies a distinctive crab-shaped building in Vanier Park.

Highlights

• Neon Vancouver: A permanent gallery showcasing restored vintage neon signs from the city's mid-century commercial heyday.
• çəsnaʔəm, the City Before the City: A landmark exhibit about the 5,000-year-old Musqueam village.
• 1960s–70s Counterculture: Exhibits documenting Kitsilano's hippie era and Greenpeace's founding.

History

Founded in 1894, it is the oldest civic museum in western Canada. The current building, designed by Gerald Hamilton, opened in 1968 and features a distinctive stainless-steel crab sculpture on the roof.

Visitor Tips

• Combined Tickets: Joint tickets covering the Museum of Vancouver, Space Centre, and Maritime Museum.
• Vanier Park: Combine your visit with a walk through the surrounding park along the waterfront.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.