History & Culture

Take a walk around Historical Nanaimo

Nanaimo is the third oldest city in BC, and has a long and colourful history that you'll enjoy getting to know by taking a heritage walking tour. The city is full of heritage buildings and interesting stories and the Nanaimo museums are packed with artifacts from the city's coal mining era, and pre-settlement First Nations communities.

Downtown is the best place to begin your Nanaimo heritage walking tour, with sites like the Bastion, the Great National Land Building, and dozens of old storefronts and bars along Victoria Crescent and Commercial Street. Take a walk past the old Palace Hotel on Skinner Street, where cars seldom drive, and you'll feel as though the clock has turned back to the early 1900s.

The Nanaimo Archives are also conveniently located downtown on Wharf Street, and offer an extensive collection of historic print and photo materials. Remember to call ahead to book an appointment with the archivist for help with your research.

For insight into Nanaimo's coal mining days, visit the impressive colliery at the south end of town, off of Morden Road. Or, head over to Newcastle Island, where pieces of coal can be found near the beach at the island's southwest corner.

Nanaimo Heritage Walking Tour brochures, produced by the Nanaimo Community Heritage Commission, are available at the Tourism Nanaimo Visitor Centre. History walking tours also leave from the Bastion daily, from May to October.

 

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Members

B.C. Forest Discovery Centre The BC Forest Discovery Centre is a 100-acre, open air museum with an operational railway in Duncan, British Columbia. The story of BC's forest...
Craigdarroch Castle Craigdarroch Castle historic house museum is a "must see" on your visit to Victoria, B. C. The wealthy Dunsmuir family saga and the mansion they...
Friends of the Morden Mine We are a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and restoring the most complete above-ground remains of an historic coal mine on...
Ladysmith Maritime Society Harbour tours July - August Maritime Museum July - August. Learn the rich history of the Ladysmith Harbour, from Chemainus First Nation...
Nanaimo Museum Come sit on a Nanaimo Bar at the Nanaimo Museum! Nanaimo’s regional museum is a worthwhile introduction to the area’s past, first as a home...
Nanaimo Theatre Group Community Theatre Group with 5 productions September to June each year. About the Nanaimo Theatre Group at the Bailey Studio Our...
Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park For an experience rich in history, culture and entertainment, do what people have been doing since the 1930s—bring your own boat or take the...
Quw'utsun' Cultural & Conference Centre The Centre offers all guests an authentic First Nations Experience - Interpretive Tours, traditional art work, knits and crafts in our gift shop,...
The Bastion The Bastion, built in 1853 as an original Hudson’s Bay Company outpost is now a museum that gives great insight into the way of life a century ago...
Vancouver Island Exhibition The Vancouver Island Exhibition will be held August 20, 21 & 22, 2010 at the Beban Park Fair Grounds. This year's theme is "Country Roots...
Vancouver Island Military Museum We are located in the Nanaimo North Town Centre mall. Our exhibits include uniforms, models, weapons, medals, pictures and other artifacts from...