New Westminster Museum & Archives

Tourism Region: Southwestern British Columbia

When you visit the New Westminster Museum and Archives you find two buildings, and two very different ways of presenting history. The 1865 Irving House offers the opportunity to revisit the splendor and grace of the Victorian era. Step through the front door and enter the 19th Century. Admire the ornate ceiling plasterwork, and appreciate the glow of original wallpaper, dating from 1887, in the Large and Small Parlours. Imagine the sumptuous dinners and other festivities that took place in the Dining Room. Envision cooking a meal in the kitchen, using the gleaming wood stove. Climb the main staircase, with its polished banister shipped from Scotland. See the spacious bedrooms and 'pedestal sink' bathroom. Step back in time, in a home described by the local newspaper when it was built in 1865 as '...the handsomest, the best and most home-like house of which British Columbia can yet boast.' Relive history - at Irving House.

The New Westminster Museum and Archives located directly behind Irving House, brings alive the history of Western Canada's oldest city. See items brought by the Royal Engineers, who founded New Westminster in 1859... Learn about New Westminster's historic May Day celebration, the oldest continuing event of its type in the British Commonwealth, and still held each May. Imagine a ride through the Fraser Canyon in 1876 with Governor General Lord Dufferin and Lady Dufferin, in their gleaming red horse drawn Coach.

The New Westminster Archives is located in the Museum building, and features historical photographs, files of information on local people, buildings and events, cemetery records, newspaper clippings and much more, some of the material is accessible through a variety of indexes and finding aids.

The New Westminster Museum & Archives will relocate at the end of 2013 to the new multi use Civic Facility. Located in the heart of New Westminster's downtown core at the corner of 8th Street and Columbia, directly accross the street form the New Westminster skytrain station.
Historical Irving House will remain fully operational in it's original location at 302 Royal Avenue.

About the Collections

The New Westminster Museum/Archives contains artifacts and archival material relating to New Westminster, British Columbia from prehistoric times to the present.

Approximate number of objects in the collections: 25,000

Archives

Photographs, pamphlets, invitations, newspaper clippings, maps, and other ephemera relating to New Westminster, British Columbia.

Cartographic Materials • Prints and Drawings • Manuscripts • Microforms • Films and Videos • Photographs • Sound Recordings • Textual Records
Other: photographs, newspaper clippings

Decorative Arts

Furnishings and household items

Ceramics, Porcelain or Pottery • Costumes • Furniture or Furnishings • Glass • Metalwork, Silverwork or Goldwork • Textiles or Tapestries

Fine Arts

Culture:
Canadian

Media:
Painting • Prints and Drawings

Human History

Artifacts reflecting the history of the development of New Westminster, B.C.

Local History • Manuscripts • Transportation : Marine : Motorized ground

Natural Sciences

Plants and Animals (Biological Collections)
Zoology : Vertebrates : Birds (Aves) : Mammals (Mammalia)

Services & Activities

Research Services

Archives by appointment Wednesday, Thursday and Friday or Drop in on Saturday and Sunday between 12:00p.m. - 5:00p.m.

Archival Records • Library • Video Library

Educational Programs

Classes or Workshops • Demonstrations • Family Programs • Internships • School Programs : Age 5-11 (k-6) : Age 12-17 (7-13)(Quebec: Secondary 1-CEGEP) : Age 18 and up (Post-Secondary) • Seniors Programs

Visitor Services

Guided Tours : English • Accessible by Public Transportation • Children's Activities or Services • Parking Facilities : Free • Gift shop • Washrooms

Volunteer Services

Volunteer Services Available • Volunteer Training Offered

Number of Volunteers: 15

Activities: Docents
Tour Guides
Historic Costume Assistant
Archives Assistant/Researcher

Internet Services

Other Internet Services

Local Tourism Links

Local Attractions

Publications and Products

Books • Postcards • Posters • T-Shirts or Sweatshirts or Caps
Other: commemorative souvenirs

Map

Visit the Website

Location

Address:	302 Royal Avenue New Westminster, British Columbia V3L 1H7 See Map
Telephone:	(604) 527-4640
Fax:	(604) 527-4641
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