Museums and galleries in Vancouver

Museums and galleries in Vancouver

1. SeeYaletown-False Creek

   BC Place

   The home of the BC Lions CFL football team and Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer. It also hosts the Canada Sevens, a major international event in the sevens variant of men's rugby union. The building is also home to many conventions, tradeshows and concerts. It has had two roofs in its history, both claimed as the largest of their types in the world. The original roof was air-supported, but it has since been replaced by a cable-supported retractable roof. The BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is located within BC Place. The museum includes permanent galleries devoted to Terry Fox and Rick Hansen as well as displays of BC sports history from the early 1800s to present.

2. SeeUBC-Point Grey

   Beaty Biodiversity Museum

   Home to Canada's largest blue whale skeleton, a herbarium, and a wide array of animal specimens including fish, insects, arthropods, tetrapods, marine invertebrates and fossils.

   Wed-Sun 11AM-5PM·$12 adults, $10 seniors/youths/non-UBC students

3. SeeCity Centre

   Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art

   The Gallery showcases the permanent collection of acclaimed Haida artist Bill Reid (1920–1998) and changing exhibitions of contemporary Northwest Coast Art. Gallery highlights include over 40 pieces of Bill Reid’s gold and silver jewelry, Reid’s bronze masterpiece Mythic Messengers, several of Reid’s works that were featured on the Canadian $20 bill and a full-scale totem pole, carved by James Hart of Haida Gwaii.

   Wed-Sun 11AM-5PM·$5-$10

4. SeeSouth

   Jewish Museum and Archives of BC

   A small museum that documents the history of the Jewish community in British Columbia. Check for interesting summer programs and tours at this museum; in 2007 it operated a "Tour de Blintz" cycling tour, which took participants to local Jewish eateries.

   Mon-Thu 9AM-5PM·Free (except for special programs)

5. SeeUBC-Point Grey

   Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery

   A small gallery with regular exhibitions. What looks like a woodpile outside is actually a sculpture, made of concrete.

   Tue-Fri 10AM-5PM, Sat Sun noon-5PM (closed Mondays and statutory holidays)·Free

6. SeeKitsilano-Granville Island

   Museum of Vancouver

   formerly the Vancouver Museum

   The largest civic museum in Canada, with over 1 million items from Vancouver's history, only a fraction of which fit in the exhibit halls. Tucked away to the left off the Orientation Gallery is a series of rooms telling Vancouver's story from the 19th century to the 1970s. The museum makes an effort to tell many stories of Vancouver: English Canadian, First Nations, various immigrant groups, etc. Kid-friendly exhibits.

   Sun-Wed 10AM-5PM, Thu-Sat 10AM-8PM·$20, senior or student $15, youth (6 to 17) $15, children (5 and under) free

7. DoCommercial Dr-Hastings Park

   PNE

   Pacific National Exhibition

   Two week exhibition where extra rides and events are added to the usual Playland activities.

   Open daily from 11AM - late during the second half of August·Gate ticket $15, Ride ticket $27-40

8. DrinkUBC-Point Grey

   The Gallery Lounge

   A smallish student-run pub, the Gallery is usually quieter than the Pit, and is a good place to go to grab a pint after class - and closer than Koerner's. Karaoke nights on Tuesday are a hoot, also open mic nights on Mondays and DJ nights on Fridays.

   food from $4, drinks from $3.75

9. SeeUBC-Point Grey

   UBC Museum of Anthropology

   Devoted to world cultures, but with an emphasis on the First Nations of the Northwest Coast. Includes a splendid collection of totem poles, a mind-boggling array of artifacts from around the world, and a number of changing exhibits.

   Daily 10AM-5PM (closes 9PM Tue)·$15.68 adults, $13.44 students/seniors, children 6 and under free ($7.84 flat rate Tu 5-9PM)

10. SeeCity Centre

    Vancouver Art Gallery

    You can see and learn a lot about Emily Carr in the permanent collection, but the rest of the gallery varies in quality depending on what they have been able to attract as special exhibits. Take advantage of admission by donation on Tuesday (5-9PM) and sample what is there before paying the full admission.

    $22.50 adult, $17 student

11. SeeSouth

    Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre

    A teaching museum that focuses on the Holocaust, genocide, and anti-racism education. The museum has small thought-provoking temporary exhibits, but these may not be on display during the summer months when the museum traditionally works on mounting its next exhibit.

    Mon-Thu 9AM-5PM, Fri 9AM-4PM·Free

12. SeeKitsilano-Granville Island

    Vancouver Maritime Museum

    Canada's premiere western maritime museum. Covers the maritime history of Canada, includes artifacts, models and the St. Roch ship. The museum apparently has far more things than space to show them, so they frequently rotate their exhibitions in fascinating thematic arrangements. Previous exhibitions included such familiar topics as the history of the Vikings, to the less familiar "1500 years of Croatian sailors". Check for $2 discount coupons that you can print from the website.

    Tue-Sun 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM·(credit card only) Adult $13.50, senior or student $11, youth (ages 6-18) $10, child 5 and under free, Family Pass (2 adults and 4 children) $38

13. SeeGastown-Chinatown

    Vancouver Police Museum

    Exhibits on the history of Vancouver's police, unusual weapons that have been confiscated and notable Vancouver crimes. There are also a number of programs and activities geared towards kids.

    Mon-Sat 9AM-5PM·Adult $7, senior or student $5

14. DoCity Centre Not mapped

    4:20

    On April 20th people congregate at the Vancouver Art Gallery to smoke marijuana and celebrate this unofficial holiday, a reflection of BC's relaxed attitudes towards cannabis.

15. Buy Not mapped

    Gastown

    Is the oldest neighbourhood in Vancouver but is being reborn as a fashion and modern urban design district. Historic buildings house hip restaurants, galleries, and interior design and high-fashion shops. This area also is notable having the most tourist souvenir shops in the region.

16. Buy Not mapped

    Granville Island

    Is an interesting place to go if you fancy the arts. The area boasts a public market, an art school (Emily Carr University of Art + Design), shops, a world music instrument store, restaurants, theatres, galleries, a hotel, boat docks and more.

17. BuyKitsilano-Granville Island

    Maritime Market

    Stores and a museum for all things related to the sea.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Vancouver (CC BY-SA 4.0).