The Maritime Museum of British Columbia
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia
The Maritime Museum of British Columbia
4
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Monday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Tuesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Thursday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Friday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
About
The Maritime Museum of BC engages people with the maritime culture and history of the Pacific Northwest through rotating exhibits, educational and community-based programs, research services, and more. Check out our featured exhibit, permanent displays, and interactive activity area!
Duration: 1-2 hours
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
309 reviews
Excellent
136
Very good
123
Average
32
Poor
9
Terrible
9
MN_FriendlyGuy
Saint Paul, MN16 contributions
May 2022
The two of us timed our visit to Victoria so that we could see the 2022 exhibit "Queer At Sea". That's unique! This was our first time visiting the museum - 3 display rooms.
After paying admission of US $8.20, ea., I asked whether there was a docent to help us learn. After all, when a museum's space is limited to 3 rooms, then they've only got room to display their BEST stuff. Glad I asked! The museum team was really happy to share their knowledge of the ship models as well as the history of the actual ships.
We spent more time here than we planned because the museum team was so incredibly welcoming.
When visiting this museum, be sure to ask whether there's a docent. Sure, you'll already know that (as of 2022) that there isn't one. But it just might allow you to discover hidden details that make a museum visit an experience that's unique.
After paying admission of US $8.20, ea., I asked whether there was a docent to help us learn. After all, when a museum's space is limited to 3 rooms, then they've only got room to display their BEST stuff. Glad I asked! The museum team was really happy to share their knowledge of the ship models as well as the history of the actual ships.
We spent more time here than we planned because the museum team was so incredibly welcoming.
When visiting this museum, be sure to ask whether there's a docent. Sure, you'll already know that (as of 2022) that there isn't one. But it just might allow you to discover hidden details that make a museum visit an experience that's unique.
Written June 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MiztyOne
Ontario255 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
We enjoyed our visit to this museum and the “Queer at Sea” exhibition. The stories shared by many former marine workers were quite interesting and enlightening. I learned much about a time period that I’d lived through but I knew nothing about the obstacles some people had faced. If you like models, there is a display of models ships. I was surprised by the details and wondered how someone made such a ship. There’s an opportunity for you to work on your semaphore skills and also a display of knots.
On arrival, we were greeted by a friendly volunteer who explained how at one time this particular museum had a much larger home and was able to show more of its collection. Let’s hope someday the museum finds a larger home. Many reviewers have mentioned that the place is small. Still, the employees work hard to provide a worthwhile and interesting display in the small space and I’m sure they would like a bigger home.
On our arrival, we saw a sign about a walking tour and we signed up for that. Megan, an enthusiastic summer student, took us on an hour long walk around the neighbourhood. We felt our entrance fee for the museum and tour was a good deal. If you plan to visit this museum, you might want to enquire ahead about the walking tour as it was very interesting but I’m not sure when it is offered but it may be once a day.
The museum also offers some workshops and I would very much like to attend the one on making jewelry using sea glass. Hopefully I can return for that. There is a small gift shop with some nautical items for sale.
We spent an hour and a half inside the museum and an hour on the walking tour. We were interested viewers.
On arrival, we were greeted by a friendly volunteer who explained how at one time this particular museum had a much larger home and was able to show more of its collection. Let’s hope someday the museum finds a larger home. Many reviewers have mentioned that the place is small. Still, the employees work hard to provide a worthwhile and interesting display in the small space and I’m sure they would like a bigger home.
On our arrival, we saw a sign about a walking tour and we signed up for that. Megan, an enthusiastic summer student, took us on an hour long walk around the neighbourhood. We felt our entrance fee for the museum and tour was a good deal. If you plan to visit this museum, you might want to enquire ahead about the walking tour as it was very interesting but I’m not sure when it is offered but it may be once a day.
The museum also offers some workshops and I would very much like to attend the one on making jewelry using sea glass. Hopefully I can return for that. There is a small gift shop with some nautical items for sale.
We spent an hour and a half inside the museum and an hour on the walking tour. We were interested viewers.
Written June 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tdsuperstar
Toronto, Canada19,629 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
The people MMBC were quite kind. However, this two room experience is really a quick, less than an hour attraction. I was lucky that I paid what I could, If you paid the full amount, what others have mentioned, you’d be disappointed. Some interesting tidbits about the gold rush, the development of the harbour, but it’s a quick museum. I would probably tell you to explore elsewhere.
Written March 14, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Darcey J
Berlin, Germany53 contributions
Jul 2023 • Couples
We visited the Maritime museum in Victoria with high hopes & paid the CAD10/adult entrance fee. Little did we know, it is one room measuring appx 11x7m with a few models of ships, a clean toilet (thank you) & another room that was set up for a workshop. The staff were friendly, however there is not much to see here. We were in & out in 10min. Very disappointing museum.
Written July 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MississaugaBee
Toronto230 contributions
Sept 2022
When in Halifax, I enjoyed the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic very much. The Halifax museum is massive with hundreds, maybe thousands, of exhibits and maritime related artifacts. Enthused by the Halifax museum, I definitely planned to visit the Maritime Museum of BC during my trip to Victoria.
In contrast to the museum in Halifax, the Maritime Museum of BC consists only of two bedroom sized rooms and a gift shop. There are maybe a dozen ship models of uneven quality in one room and a second room that features a wall collection of rope knots and some anchors you can run thru a tub of sand.
I was prepared for the visit by reading about it before the trip but was still disappointed at the sparseness of the displays. For just over $8, it is overpriced especially if you have limited interest in models.
Apparently, they have more in the collection but the rest is squirreled away due to downsizing. I suggest they relocate over to the large Royal BC Museum located just down the street. The BC museum has relatively few exhibits with a huge amount of unused space (at least when we were there); a synergy between the two museums would make sense.
In contrast to the museum in Halifax, the Maritime Museum of BC consists only of two bedroom sized rooms and a gift shop. There are maybe a dozen ship models of uneven quality in one room and a second room that features a wall collection of rope knots and some anchors you can run thru a tub of sand.
I was prepared for the visit by reading about it before the trip but was still disappointed at the sparseness of the displays. For just over $8, it is overpriced especially if you have limited interest in models.
Apparently, they have more in the collection but the rest is squirreled away due to downsizing. I suggest they relocate over to the large Royal BC Museum located just down the street. The BC museum has relatively few exhibits with a huge amount of unused space (at least when we were there); a synergy between the two museums would make sense.
Written October 18, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
operalover939
Toronto, Canada2,945 contributions
Mar 2020
The museum occupies a relatively small space on Humboldt Street, having left the old courthouse on Bastion Street some years ago. It does not seem to be well-funded and is closed half of the week. However, at present it has an interesting exhibition on lighthouses on the West Coast of B.C. Even more interesting is the series of small films on the sinking of the S.S. Princess Sophia in the Lynn Canal, en route from Skagway to Victoria, in October 1918. Still the most costly maritime disaster in the North West Pacific in human terms — everyone on board, some 350 people, drowned — the way it developed makes a gripping tale. There are also some very attractive models of ships that operated along the coast over the decades.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alice C
Cochrane, Canada1 contribution
Mar 2022 • Couples
My husband always likes to see the local Maritime museums when we travel. This museum was terrible disappointing. Very little displays; very little history and no attempt to tell a story. One small room cannot possibly tell the history of 400 years at Port Victoria.
Absolutely no value for the 10$ cost of admission!
Absolutely no value for the 10$ cost of admission!
Written March 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pierre jacques
Quebec City, Canada78 contributions
Jun 2022 • Couples
The museum seems large from outside but just like a small condo ( studio) inside ! The entrance was$16,for two seniors . The person at the entrance was very nice. We appreciated the numerous “ship maquettes” , about 10 mini anchors , a sailing knots display on the wall and that ‘s it ! ait was the “queer at sea “ weeks so there was 4 or five personal history with pictures .
The best part is the souvenir shop ( 8’ by 6’)
It should be free ! ait is a bust at this price !
The best part is the souvenir shop ( 8’ by 6’)
It should be free ! ait is a bust at this price !
Written June 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avidesh
Oxford, UK700 contributions
Jun 2023
I got a free pass to visit here because of a conference I attended in Victoria. There isn't much to see here apart from some lovely ship models. All displays are confined to two rooms, which you can see in under 5-10 minutes. If it wasn't free for me to visit here, I certainly wasn't paying to enter.
Written June 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
john r
12 contributions
Apr 2022
This was my first visit to the Maritime Museum since they moved from Bastion Square (a very sad move). However, their new location (part of the Empress hotel complex) is superb and I really enjoyed my visit. The staff were friendly and ready to answer any questions. Would recommend a visit to the museum if you are looking for things to do in Victoria.
Written April 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wie viel Zeit kann man für das Museum einplanen? Eine Stunde, zwei?
Written May 10, 2016
The Maritime Museum of BC
Victoria, Canada
Hi Torsten_RaaB!
It really depends on how much time you want to take looking at the displays and reading the signage. Most visitors who come to the Maritime Museum of BC go through the space in an hour, though some take more time and spend several hours. If you are the type of person who likes to read all the signage, two hours would be a safer bet :)
Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Brittany, Archivist
Maritime Museum of BC
Written May 25, 2016
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