Royal BC Museum

is celebrating 125 years!

We recently zoomed through this magnificent building and enjoyed many terrific exhibits.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The “Wildlife Photographer of the Year” exhibit is on December 16, 2011 – April 9, 2012 and Victorians are fortunate to be the first stop on the North American Tour where the most incredible international wildlife photographers show case their best images. 

First Peoples Gallery

I experienced what an authentic Cedar long house felt like in the First Peoples Gallery.  A chief and his family from Fort Rupert created the house and exhibit carvings.  They still maintain the ceremonial rights to the house.  It is kind of a ‘short form’ of a long house (wink, wink).

Before the arrival of the Europeans, at least 80,000 First Nations lived in what is now BC.  By 1885, this amount reduced to 28,000 by the effects of disease, firearms, and alcohol.  The small pox epidemic of 1862 in Victoria killed 20,000 alone.

Ice-Age Mammoth

I also learned that Wooly Mammoths once roamed this part of the world.  The one in this exhibit took three months to construct in the museum basement in 1979.  We even touched a 10,000-year-old tusk, one of many ice-age fossils found along the coast.

1972-1975 - Rayon and Polyester Suit

The Modern History gallery allowed us the opportunity to stroll back in time through more than 200 years.  I must admit, I felt a wee bit older seeing a disco outfit in one of the display cases.  Modern history, eh?  Hmph.

Jim enjoying a 'silent' movie

If you visit Victoria, or live here, plan to zoom through this awesome place.  It is worth a visit.  (www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca)