Steveston Museum facts for kids
The Steveston Museum and post office.
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| Established | 1979 (built 1905) |
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| Location | 3811 Moncton Street Steveston, British Columbia Canada |
The Steveston Museum is a cool place to visit in the village of Steveston, British Columbia, Canada. You can find it at 3811 Moncton Street. The building belongs to the City of Richmond. The Steveston Historical Society helps run the museum. This building was built in 1905. It was a busy time for fish canneries. The building first served as Steveston's very first bank.
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A Building's Journey Through Time
This special building was ordered from a catalog. It was chosen by the Northern Bank. The BC Mills Timber and Trading Co. made it. They shipped it down the Fraser River by barge. It came all the way from New Westminster. The building stayed a bank until 1963. After that, it became a doctor's office. Dr. J.M. Campbell had his medical practice there.
In 1979, the building opened its doors again. This time, it became the Steveston Museum and Post Office. Today, you can see old-fashioned wooden boardwalks around it. Inside, there are exhibits about what life was like in Steveston Village.
In 2010, another important building joined the museum site. This was the Japanese Fisherman's Benevolent Association Building. It was also called the Japanese Hospital Office. It moved from its old spot to next to the museum. Since 2012, the museum site also has a place for tourists. It is a Tourism Richmond information center.
Exploring the Steveston Museum
The Steveston Historical Society works hard. Their goal is to share the story of Steveston. This village was once a busy fishing and farming community. It is located in the southeast part of Richmond.
What You Can See Inside
On the main floor of the museum, you can explore the Bank Manager's office. It looks just like it did in the early 1900s. You will see old furniture and business machines. There are also other interesting displays. Upstairs, you will find an office and a meeting room. This area used to be where the bank staff lived. They also worked as night watchmen.
Stories of Different Cultures
The museum also has Japanese and Chinese artifacts. These items show how important these cultures were in Steveston. There are also photo displays. They capture the history of this old fishing harbor. Steveston is one of the oldest fishing harbors on the Canadian West Coast.
The Japanese Fishermen's Benevolent Society Building
This building has a very important history. It was once the office for the Japanese Fishermen's Hospital. This was the first hospital ever built in Richmond. It was also used by the Japanese School. The Japanese Fisherman's Benevolent Society built it in 1900.
A Hospital for the Community
This hospital was the main place for health care in the community. It had 30 beds for patients. There was also a surgery ward. It had a kitchen and dorms for staff. The hospital was very important. It helped the community during typhoid fever outbreaks. These outbreaks happened every year in the late 1800s. The hospital closed in 1942. This was when Japanese Canadians were sent to internment camps.
A New Chapter for the Building
After World War Two, the building became a family home. It was the only building left from the original hospital, school, and office group. In 2010, the Japanese Hospital Office moved. It became part of the Steveston Museum site. It was carefully fixed up to look like it did long ago. The Japanese Fishermen's Benevolent Society Building officially opened on June 5, 2015. Now, it has exhibits inside. These exhibits tell the story of the Japanese Canadian community in Steveston. You can enter this building through the Steveston Museum's post office.
