Vancouver Police Museum facts for kids
Vancouver Police Museum & Archives, in the old Coroner's Court/City Analyst's building
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| Former name | Vancouver Police Centennial Museum |
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| Established | 1986 |
| Location | 240 East Cordova Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6A 1L3 |
| Type | Police, forensics, and death and criminal investigation |
The Vancouver Police Museum & Archives is a special place that teaches you about the history of the Vancouver Police Department. It first opened in 1986. This was to celebrate 100 years of the police department and the city of Vancouver, British Columbia.
You can find the museum at 240 East Cordova Street. It's right next to Vancouver's historic Gastown area. The building itself is very old and has an interesting past.
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About the Museum Building
The museum is inside a building that was built in 1932. It was originally used for the City Coroner’s Services. This means it had a court, a morgue, and places for autopsies until 1980. It also had the City Analyst’s Laboratory until 1996.
In 1935, the Coroner's Court part of the building was even used as a temporary hospital by the police. This happened during an event known as the Battle of Ballantyne Pier. The building was designed by an architect named Arthur J. Bird. Today, it is a protected heritage building because of its history.
Who Runs the Museum
The Vancouver Police Museum & Archives is run by a group called the Vancouver Police Historical Society. This is a non-profit organization. They started in 1983 with a goal to share the history of the Vancouver Police Department. They also wanted to create a museum for this purpose.
The idea for the museum came from its first curator, Joe Swan. He was a former police sergeant and loved history. Joe Swan wrote the official history book for the police department. It was called A Century of Service: The Vancouver Police, 1886-1986.
What You Can See Inside
The museum is located on the top floor of the old Coroner's Court building. Some of the permanent exhibits include the original morgue and autopsy room. These areas show what they looked like when they were in use.
The museum has a huge collection of about 30,000 items. These items include old documents, photographs, and publications. You can also see confiscated firearms, other weapons, and fake money. There are many other interesting objects and souvenirs. About 40% of these items are on display for visitors to see.
The museum also offers special learning programs for kids and teens. These programs focus on forensic investigation. This is the science of solving crimes using clues. There is also a small book shop at the museum. It sells books by local writers. The museum also publishes a newsletter four times a year.
How the Museum Is Funded
The Vancouver Police Museum & Archives pays for itself. It gets money from admission fees and program fees. It also gets money from people who become members and from donations. Sales from the book shop help too, along with special project grants.
The museum does not get direct money from the Vancouver Police Department or the City of Vancouver. However, they do get helpful support from them in other ways.
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