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 located at 3811 Moncton Street. This is in the heart of the village of Steveston, British Columbia, Canada. The City of Richmond owns the building. The Steveston Historical Society runs it. The building was built in 1905. This was a busy time when many fish canneries were opening. It was Steveston's very first bank.
A Building's Journey Through Time
The building was made from parts built somewhere else. It was chosen by Northern Bank from a special catalog. Then, it was shipped down the Fraser River by a large boat from New Westminster. It stayed a bank until 1963. After that, it became a doctor's office. Dr. J.M. Campbell used it for his medical practice.
In 1979, the building opened as The Steveston Museum and Post Office. Today, you can see old-fashioned wooden boardwalks around it. Inside, there are exhibits that show what life was like in Steveston Village long ago.
In 2010, another important building was moved next to the museum. This was the Japanese Fisherman's Benevolent Association Building. It was also known as the Japanese Hospital Office. Since 2012, the museum site also has a special center. This center gives information to tourists visiting Richmond.
Exploring the Museum
The Steveston Historical Society helps tell the story of Steveston. This village was once a busy place for fishing and farming. It is located in the southeast part of Richmond.
On the main floor of the museum, you can see the old Bank Manager's office. It has furniture and machines from the early 1900s. There are also other interesting displays. Upstairs, there used to be living areas for the bank staff. They also worked as night watchmen. Now, these rooms are used as an office and a meeting room.
The museum also has items from Japanese and Chinese cultures. These show how important these groups were in Steveston's history. Photo displays capture the heritage of this area. It is one of the oldest fishing harbors on the Canadian West Coast.
The Japanese Fishermen's Benevolent Society Building
This building was once the office for the Japanese Fishermen's Hospital. This hospital was the first one built in Richmond. It was also used for the Japanese School. The Japanese Fisherman's Benevolent Society built it in 1900.
The hospital was the main place for health care in the community. It had 30 beds, a surgery room, a kitchen, and staff dorms. This hospital was very important. It helped the Japanese Canadian community in Steveston. They faced serious health challenges like typhoid fever outbreaks every year in the late 1800s. The hospital closed in 1942. This happened when Japanese Canadians were moved away from the coast.
After World War Two, the Japanese Fishermen's Benevolent Society Building became a family home. It was the only building left from the original hospital, school, and office area. In 2010, the Japanese Hospital Office was moved to the Steveston Museum site. It was carefully fixed up to look like it did in the past. The Japanese Fishermen's Benevolent Society Building officially opened on June 5, 2015. Now, it has exhibits that tell the story of the Japanese Canadian community in Steveston. You can enter this building through the Steveston Museum's post office.
