Vancouver Maritime Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1959 |
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| Location | 1905 Ogden Avenue Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V6J 1A3 |
| Type | Maritime museum |
The Vancouver Maritime Museum is a cool place to learn about ships and the ocean. It's a maritime museum, which means it focuses on the history of the sea. This museum tells the story of Vancouver's connection to the ocean, British Columbia's sea adventures, and even the Canadian Arctic.
The museum opened in 1959. It was a special project to celebrate Vancouver's 100th birthday! You can find it in Vanier Park, right by the water in Vancouver. It's a great spot to explore Canada's amazing sea history.
Contents
What Can You See at the Museum?
The museum has many interesting things to explore. You can see real ships, tiny model ships, and lots of art about the ocean. It's a fun way to learn about how people traveled and worked on the water long ago.
The Famous St. Roch Ship
The main attraction at the museum is the St. Roch. This is a very special ship that was used by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. It was an arctic exploration vessel, meaning it traveled through the icy waters of the Arctic. The St. Roch made history by being one of the first ships to sail through the Northwest Passage in both directions!
Amazing Model Ships
The museum has a huge collection of model ships. Some of these models are incredibly detailed. You can even see historic models made entirely from cardboard or paper. There's also a very special model of a French warship called Vengeur du Peuple. This model was made around 1800 by French prisoners of war using bone!
Fun for Young Explorers
There's a special area just for kids called the Children's Maritime Discovery Centre. Here, you can learn and play. You can also see a recreation of the forecastle (the front part of a ship) from Captain Vancouver's ship, the Discovery. It's like stepping back in time!
Art, Books, and More
The museum also has a large collection of art about the sea. Plus, it has a big library and archives. These places hold old maps, photos, and documents about maritime history.
Outdoor Adventures
Outside the museum, you can find more cool exhibits.
One of these is the Ben Franklin. This is a real undersea research vessel that was used by NASA to explore the ocean deep. You can also see the boiler from the Beaver. This was the first steamship ever used in the Pacific Northwest! The museum also has a small heritage harbor with historic boats.
Watch Model Makers at Work
If you're lucky, you might get to visit the workshop. Here, you can watch skilled craftspeople building new model ships. It's fascinating to see how much detail goes into each one.
Special Collections to Discover
The museum also has some very important collections. One is the Chung collection, which has many items related to Canadian Pacific steamships. There are also original hand-drawn charts from Captain Cook's famous explorations of the Pacific Ocean. These charts show how explorers mapped the world long ago.
More to Explore
- Maritime Museum of British Columbia
- Museum ship
- List of museum ships
- Ship replica
- Ships preserved in museums
