Bulkley Valley Museum

Tourism Region: Northwest British Columbia

The Bulkley Valley Museum is located in the heart of the Town of Smithers, northwestern British Columbia, at the intersection of Hwy 16 and Main Street. The Museum has permanent collection exhibits featuring the cultural and industrial development of the Valley. Exhibits feature the Wet’suwet’en nation, development of the Telegraph Trail and the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, mining, agriculture and forestry industries. The Museum also has a spectacular aviation exhibit which includes a set of twin 20 mm cannons from the American B36 bomber which crashed nearby on February 14th, 1950.
During the summer season, the Museum hosts its annual Culture Crawl which includes exhibition sites around the town of Smithers. The Culture Crawl features the Swiss and Dutch migrations to the Valley, beautiful gardens and the sites for kit homes shipped to Smithers by rail from Illinois and Ontario during the 1920’s and 1930’s. The Museum also hosts a fascinating fossil display made up of artifacts from local fossil bed sites in the Bulkley Valley.

About the Collections

Started in 1976, the Bulkley Valley Museum has built up a permanent collection which comprises the social and technological development of the Bulkley Valley. The collection showcases a fascinating introductory fossil display which explains the prehistoric story of this beautiful valley.

Our fascinating aboriginal peoples’ exhibition describes the first contact between the Bulkley Valley First Nations and Europeans and the establishment of the fur trade and Moricetown.

Learn the absorbing story of the creation of Smithers by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway in 1913 as a divisional point (a train station complete with a roundhouse and turntable for mighty locomotives) and why the railway company deliberately chose to build on a swamp.

Follow the development of the mining and forestry industries in our region.

Find out what is “Smithers’ Gift to Civilization”.

Discover the massive contribution of aviation to the development of Northern British Columbia in our “Aviation in Northern British Columbia” exhibition. This exhibition also includes the story of America’s first ever Broken Arrow, the code word for a downed aircraft or submarine carrying atomic weapons. Discover how an American B36 bomber with a nuclear payload took off from Alaska and ended up crashing into the mountains surrounding the Bulkley Valley on Valentine’s Day, 1950.

Find out where the names Bulkley and Smithers came from.

During our Summer Season, drop in at the Bulkley Valley Museum and find out how, at no cost, you can take part in the Smithers’ Culture Crawl around our lovely town. On the “Crawl” you will discover exhibitions in unlikely locations which detail the stories of the Dutch and Swiss migrations to our Valley. Also, you will discover kit homes which were shipped to Smithers by railway from Chicago and Ontario in the 1920’s and 1930’s.

Approximate number of objects in the collections: 5000

Archives

The Museum is a repository of microfilm editions of the Interior News newspaper and other newspapers in this area dating back to the 1900’s. These microfilms are part of the Museum’s ongoing research tools available to the public.

Cartographic Materials • Prints and Drawings • Microforms • Sound Recordings • Textual Records

Human History

Agriculture • Animal Husbandry • Archaeological Objects • Ceremonial Objects • Clocks or Time-Keeping Devices • Communications Devices • Computing Technology • Costumes and Accessories • Currency • Electricity • Exploration and Survey • Forestry • Furniture or Furnishings • Household Objects or Domestic Technology • Imaging : Photographs • Industrial Technology and History • Local History • Manuscripts • Maps, Charts, Plans or Blueprints • Medals • Medical History and Technology • Memorabilia • Military History and Technology • Oral History • Sports Equipment • Toys and Games • Transportation : Aviation : Non-motorized ground : Railway

Natural Sciences

Plants and Animals (Biological Collections)
Zooarchaeological Specimens

Earth Science and Geological Collections
Minerals • Rocks • Precious Stones (Lapidary) • Drill Cores

Paleontological Collections
Fossil Collections • Fossil Plants (Paleobotany) • Fossil Invertebrates (Invertebrate Paleontology) • Fossil Vertebrates (Vertebrate Paleontology)

Services & Activities

Research Services

The Museum is a repository of microfilm editions of the Interior News newspaper and other newspapers in this area dating back to the 1900’s. These microfilms are part of the Museum’s ongoing research tools available to the public. The Museum offers a research service upon request. The fee is $15 per hour.

Archival Records • Library

Educational Programs

The Bulkley Valley Museum’s friendly staff supply guided tours of its exhibitions to individuals and school groups. Historical orientation is offered for local business sales representatives.

Demonstrations • School Programs : Age 0-4 (Pre-School) : Age 5-11 (k-6) : Age 12-17 (7-13)(Quebec: Secondary 1-CEGEP) : Age 18 and up (Post-Secondary) • Professional Development

Visitor Services

The Bulkley Valley Museum’s friendly staff supply guided tours of its exhibitions to individuals and school groups.

Guided Tours : English • Children's Activities or Services • Parking Facilities : Free • Gift shop • Special Needs Facilities : Washrooms • Washrooms

Food Services

Picnic Area

Internet Services

General Information • Other Internet Services

Local Tourism Links

Local Attractions • Other Services

Other Services

The building in Smithers we all refer to affectionately as “The Old Church” started out as St. James’ Anglican Church in 1913, the same year the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway founded the site we now call the Town of Smithers. Sitting on the corner of King St. and First Ave., St. James’ church and its church hall became a spiritual and community centre for the growing village and later town.

After the parish of St. James moved to its new home on Princess St. in 1975, the original parish church building was left unused and suffered disrepair and neglect.

In 2004, thanks to the dedication and vision of a dynamic group of volunteers, the building was renovated and resurrected for use as a community assembly and recital centre and given the moniker “The Old Church”. Since 2004, the Old Church has been administered by the BV Museum.

Later the beautiful gardens were developed and are currently maintained by a wonderful group of “green thumb” volunteers. Gardening enthusiasts are welcome to view our wonderful examples of the flora we grow in our northern gardens. If you would like to join this merry group of gardening enthusiasts, please phone the Museum (250) 847-5322 or email info@bvmuseum.com

The Old Church is available for rental as a site for musical performances, seminars, lectures, theatre, dance classes, weddings and birthday parties and more.

The Old Church can accommodate up to 90 people and comes with a fully equipped kitchen complete with coffee urns, dishes, food safe dishwasher, fridge and stove and inspected by the Northern Health Authority. The facility also boasts an upright piano, sound system, 2 washrooms and other wonderful features.

For full rental details and rates, please contact the Bulkley Valley Museum (250) 847-5322 or email info@bvmuseum.com

Publications and Products

Stories of Swiss Settlement in The Bulkley Valley From 1910 to 1960

Broken Arrow- America's First Lost Nuclear Weapon By Norman S. Leach

Memoirs of a Young Immigrant: Norway to the Bulkley Valley 1929-1942 by Hallvard Dahlie

Norway to Alberta: A Family Chronicle By Hallvard Dahlie

Smithers: A Railroad Town by Harry Kruisselbrink

Kate's Selection: Subterfuge and other Bulkley Valley stories, secrets and truths.

Marks of a Century: A History of Houston, B.C. 1900-2000.

To All Our Children: The Story of The Postwar Dutch Immigration To Canada by Albert VanderMey

Remember When by Lillian Weedmark

"Skypilot" Stephenson: In His Own Write

Pioneer Women of The Bulkley Valley.

Tried, Tested and Delicious: Collection of Heritage Recipes and Images of Days Gone By.

Smithers Harmonettes Remembered "2007 40 Year Reunion" CD

Books • Brochures • Catalogues • CD-ROMS • Newsletters • Postcards • T-Shirts or Sweatshirts or Caps

Featured Images

Visit the Website

Location

Address:	1425 Main Street corner of Highway 16 Smithers, British Columbia V0J 2N0
Telephone:	(250) 847-5322
Fax:	(250) 847-5363
Mailing Address:	Bulkley Valley Museum Box 2615, Smithers, British Columbia V0J2N0
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