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Vancouver Police Museum facts for kids

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Vancouver Police Museum & Archives
Coroner's Court.jpg
Vancouver Police Museum & Archives, in the old Coroner's Court/City Analyst's building
Former name Vancouver Police Centennial Museum
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 in Vancouver, British Columbia. It opened in 1986 to celebrate 100 years of the Vancouver Police Department and the city itself. This museum helps people learn about the history of policing in Vancouver.

The museum is located at 240 East Cordova Street, near a historic area called Gastown. It is inside a building that was built in 1932. This building used to be where the city's coroner worked. A coroner is an official who investigates deaths. The building had a special court, a morgue (where bodies are kept), and a lab for city scientists. In 1935, during a big event called the Battle of Ballantyne Pier, the coroner's court was even used as a temporary hospital by the police. A famous architect named Arthur J. Bird designed this important building. Today, it is recognized as a very important heritage building.

About the Museum

Who Runs the Museum?

The Vancouver Police Museum & Archives is managed by the Vancouver Police Historical Society. This group 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 of the police department. It was called A Century of Service: The Vancouver Police, 1886-1986. This book was published in 1986.

What Can You See at the Museum?

The museum is on the top floor of the old Coroner's Court building. You can see many interesting things there. Some of the permanent exhibits include the original morgue and autopsy room. An autopsy is when doctors examine a body to find out how someone died.

The museum has a huge collection of about 30,000 items. These items include old documents, photographs, and books. They also have items like old firearms, fake money, and other police tools. About 40% of these items are on display for visitors to see.

Learning and Programs

The museum offers special learning programs for kids and teenagers. These programs often focus on forensic investigation. Forensics is the use of science to solve mysteries. The museum also has a small shop where you can buy books. These books are often written by local authors. The museum also publishes a newsletter four times a year.

How the Museum is Funded

The museum gets its money from different sources. It earns money from admission fees and program fees. People can also become members or give donations. The book shop sales also help fund the museum. Sometimes, the museum gets special grants for projects. 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, like using their buildings or equipment.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Museo de la Policía de Vancouver para niños

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