Maritime Museum of British Columbia facts for kids

The Maritime Museum of British Columbia (often called MMBC) is a museum in Victoria, British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada. It helps people learn about the history and culture of the sea in the Pacific Northwest. The museum does this through special exhibits, fun educational programs, and research.

In 2015, the MMBC moved from its old home in Bastion Square. Its collections were stored safely in a special building. In August 2021, the museum moved to its current spot at 744 Douglas Street. This new place has space for exhibits, a research area for visitors, a gift shop, and offices.

History of the Museum

The Maritime Museum of BC first opened in 1955. It was started by naval officers in Esquimalt, British Columbia. In 1957, the Maritime Museum of British Columbia Society was officially created. This group wanted to share the history of the entire Pacific coast.

The museum moved to 28 Bastion Square in downtown Victoria between 1963 and 1964. Later, in 1981, a different group started the CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum. That museum is still open today.

The Bastion Square museum closed in October 2014. This was because the old courthouse building needed important repairs. Moving all the museum's items took over a year. The Society finished moving to Humboldt Street in July 2015. Then, in August 2021, the MMBC moved to its current home on Douglas Street. Here, they show some of their collection and host special traveling exhibits.

What You Can See: Collections and Exhibits

The museum has a huge collection of about 35,000 items. This includes 800 models of ships! It also has many things related to the sea history of British Columbia.

There is a special library with 6,000 books. Some of these books are very old and important. The museum also keeps old records from shipping companies and shipbuilders. You can find logbooks, naval records, and plans for 1,800 different ships. There are also maps, charts, an art collection, and about 36,000 photographs.

The museum at 744 Douglas Street opened to the public in September 2021. They offer educational programs and talks for visitors. The exhibit area shows items from the museum's main collection and special traveling exhibits. Most of the collection is kept safe in a climate-controlled building in Victoria. Very large items are stored at Ogden Point.

The museum also has three amazing historic small boats:

• Tilikum: This is a 38-foot (11.6m) canoe made from cedar. It was sailed all the way around the world, starting from Vancouver Island in 1901!
• Trekka: This 20.5-foot (6.2m) sailboat was sailed around the world by its builder from Victoria. When it completed its journey in 1954, it was the smallest yacht to have sailed around the globe.
• Dorothy: This boat was built locally in 1897. It is a fantail cutter and is currently being repaired and restored.

Working with Others: Affiliations

The Maritime Museum of BC works with several other groups. These include the B.C. Museums Association and the Canadian Museums Association. They also work with the Virtual Museum of Canada and Canadian Heritage Information Network. The museum is supported by the Hon. Judith Guichon, who is the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia.

See also

• Vancouver Maritime Museum, Vancouver, British Columbia
• International Congress of Maritime Museums (ICMM)