Museums across the country are offering free and reduced admission as part of the Canada Strong Pass program, which encourages Canadians and visitors to explore our great country this summer and runs from June 20 to Sept. 2, 2025. The Royal BC Museum is one of them, and it’s conveniently situated in Victoria — just a day trip away from Vancouver!
Over seven million objects await
Considered one of Canada’s oldest continually operating museums, the Royal BC Museum is a cultural epicentre of learning and research, home to over seven million objects, belongings, specimens, artworks, and millions of government records. And if that doesn’t give you enough to stew on, IMAX Victoria is there to bring even more stories from across the province to life.
History of the museum
What started out in a single room in 1886 as a small collection of archival records eventually became one of the most prominent national museums in the country. And it all started as a response to a petition signed by 30 Victoria residents, according to the museum.
After several moves and the establishment of the separate Provincial Archives, the museum gained formal operating authority under B.C.’s Museum Act. As a result, the objective to secure and preserve the province’s natural history and anthropological materials from First Nations was created.
Today, the museum is located on the traditional territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, who were once known as the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) peoples.
Since celebrating its centennial in 1986, the museum has grown extensively in size and scope. This includes the completion of its Natural History galleries, Open Oceans, and the union of B.C. Archives, Helmcken House, the Netherlands Carillon, Thunderbird Park, St Ann’s Schoolhouse and the Royal BC Museum as the Royal BC Museum Corporation.
Featured collections
Ready to check it out for yourself? Featured collections include the Emily Carr Collection, the 19th-century Frederick Dally Collection, the Royalty in B.C. record, and an Ethnology Collection with over 14,000 Indigenous objects from across the province, some of which date back to the early 19th century. The latter marks one of the most comprehensive collections of First Nations cultural materials from B.C., according to the museum.
Reduced admission
Until Sept. 2, 2025, admission to the museum is priced at $14.98 per person aged 19 to 24, and free for those aged 17 and under. For visitors over 24, a regular admission fee of $29.95 applies.
The Royal BC Museum is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Note that the museum will close an hour early on Aug. 15 and 25, 2025.
When: Open daily
Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: 675 Belleville St., Victoria
Cost: $29.95 per adult, $14.98 for adults aged 19 to 24, and free for those 17 and under
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