Cortes Island Museum & Archives and Visitor Info Booth
Cortes Island Museum & Archives and Visitor Info Booth
Cortes Island Museum & Archives and Visitor Info Booth
4.5
Visitor Centres • Speciality Museums • Private Tours • History Museums
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10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Full view
About
Small museum with local history and natural history of Cortes Island. Exhibits change every year. Beautiful heritage garden with picnic table - allows for family lunch. We are also a Tourist/Visitor Information Booth (T/VIB) as part of a provincial network under Destination BC
Cortes Island Museum & Archives and Visitor Info Booth
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
16 reviews
Excellent
10
Very good
6
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
Heather W
Canmore, Canada22 contributions
Sep. 2021
What a beautiful museum -- a dive into Cortes' stories and history with respectful and thoughtful interpretive content. Love the bees exhibit. Thanks for providing this information hub for Cortes Islanders and visitors. I'll be back!
Written September 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Denise S
Jacksonville Beach, FL4 contributions
Aug. 2018 • Friends
Please stop by and peruse this local gem where you can learn about the history of Cortes Island and the people that settled there.
Interesting slab from an island Sequoia or Redwood. Different events throughout time are marked.
Lovely garden to walk through!
Interesting slab from an island Sequoia or Redwood. Different events throughout time are marked.
Lovely garden to walk through!
Written October 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thanks for your review Denise. We love to hear what people take away from a visit to the Cortes Island Museum. If you are on Cortes Island be sure to stop by and spend 10 minutes, an hour, or longer learning about island history. Open in the winter months on Friday and Saturday from 12 - 4pm.
Written December 5, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Carolyn H
Qualicum Beach, Canada5 contributions
Sep. 2018 • Couples
This was a trip of a lifetime, booked this for my husband Malcolms 80th birthday surprise and it was everything we anticipated and more. Captain Mike educated us along the way and back with stories, maps and the history of the area. All the marine animals came out to perform for us, Orcas, Humpback Whales, Porpoise, Sea Lions, Seals and more.
The accommodation and food at the Blind Channel Resort were first class as were our fellow passengers. I would recommend this or any trip on the Misty Isle Adventures to
everyone whatever age.
The accommodation and food at the Blind Channel Resort were first class as were our fellow passengers. I would recommend this or any trip on the Misty Isle Adventures to
everyone whatever age.
Written September 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you Carolyn for this fabulous 'trip of a lifetime' review. The Cortes Island Museum & Archives partners with Misty Isles every summer season. Captain Mike and all the folks at the museum want to thank you for the support, as a portion of each trip fee goes into the keeping the museum doors open year round, and the rest to keeping Misty Isles afloat.
Written September 8, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AmandaMTL
Montreal, Canada7 contributions
Aug. 2018 • Friends
Came for a visit and checked out exhibit by and about Cortes-based artist Judy Williams. Was a great retrospective on Refuge Cove community she was part of for a long time. A wonderful mix of historical context and aesthetic stimulation. Her her large-scale watercolour paintings are really gorgeous. There was lots more to see and explore at the museum. I din't have time for all that much. But I thoroughly enjoyed my visit. Museum staff (Liam I think?) was very helpful and informative.
Written August 26, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for these comments about the Cortes Island Museum and Archives. We have recently dismantled the Refuge Cove exhibit and are preparing the space for two new exhibits, Curiouser & Curiouser, and a 20 Year Retrospective. These exhibits will open on October 31, with a poetry reading and a glimpse at artifacts and archival material from one of Cortes Islands' colourful characters, Gilean Douglas. Please come back and visit soon.
Written September 26, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Barry G
WHALETOWN, Canada5 contributions
Aug. 2017 • Family
This is both educational and entertaining. It is often renewed and makes you think. It is a true surprize. Do not underestimate. It is worth the trip. Take the time.
Written March 3, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thanks for your review of the Cortes Island Museum and Archives. Our current exhibit, 'Refuge Cove: Moving With the Tide', engages viewers with paintings, written stories, photographs and artifacts from the small Refuge Cove bay on West Redonda Island in the Desolation Sound area. The store in Refuge Cove once served Cortes Islanders as well as lively tug traffic from log-sorts and fish boats working in the area.
Written July 25, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jerzy T
Mansons Landing, Canada8 contributions
Aug. 2017 • Couples
The Cortes Museum helps to organise trips onboard the Misty Isles. We, my wife and me, have lived on Cortes Island since 2009. We try to enlist once a year for such a trip, to self-reward ourselves and to respect the community. Our this year trip was to Blind Channel Resort on West Thurlow Island resort in the Desolation Sound, some 40 Nautical miles north of Cortes Island.
I would rate the trip as excellent. On board food is organic, vegetarian, and plentiful, mostly from Samantha and Mike’s own garden.
Overnight stay (two bedroom cabins, king size or double beds, shared bathroom and kitchen/seating area) makes trip more expensive, but worth that additional money. We had time for a moderately difficult walk through the forest (some really big trees!), and excellent dinner in the restaurant.
Mike is a seasoned sailor and a talker, so you could learn a lot - and this is why you booked for the trip in the first place, right? We saw sea life (humpback whales, porpoises), human life (luxury yacht with helicopter on its pad), oyster and salmon farms - you name it. Everything was given to us on the plate - even a pictograph site!
Volunteers from the museum would travel some 20 km to the Whaletown ferry terminal to pick you up (and, later, to deliver you there), for a suggested small donation to the museum.
There is enough space to accommodate all the passengers on board (up to 12 of, plus 2 crew). Skipper, with help of some passengers would set sails when it is helpful, or just for sake of demonstration; otherwise, the ship is propelled by engine.
It is also worth noting that the vessel is a beauty, meticulously maintained to the Transport Canada safety standards, and to the owners’ own standard - protecting the earth and environment. A true vacation postcard from the Cortes Island!
I would rate the trip as excellent. On board food is organic, vegetarian, and plentiful, mostly from Samantha and Mike’s own garden.
Overnight stay (two bedroom cabins, king size or double beds, shared bathroom and kitchen/seating area) makes trip more expensive, but worth that additional money. We had time for a moderately difficult walk through the forest (some really big trees!), and excellent dinner in the restaurant.
Mike is a seasoned sailor and a talker, so you could learn a lot - and this is why you booked for the trip in the first place, right? We saw sea life (humpback whales, porpoises), human life (luxury yacht with helicopter on its pad), oyster and salmon farms - you name it. Everything was given to us on the plate - even a pictograph site!
Volunteers from the museum would travel some 20 km to the Whaletown ferry terminal to pick you up (and, later, to deliver you there), for a suggested small donation to the museum.
There is enough space to accommodate all the passengers on board (up to 12 of, plus 2 crew). Skipper, with help of some passengers would set sails when it is helpful, or just for sake of demonstration; otherwise, the ship is propelled by engine.
It is also worth noting that the vessel is a beauty, meticulously maintained to the Transport Canada safety standards, and to the owners’ own standard - protecting the earth and environment. A true vacation postcard from the Cortes Island!
Written September 13, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your detailed review and your appreciation of the Blind Channel trip. It is a pleasure of the museum to provide such outings and we feel most fortunate to partner with Misty Isles. We look forward to seeing you again in the future.
Written October 13, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
FarFlungStarling
Qualicum Beach, Canada1,014 contributions
Jul. 2017 • Couples
Go Figure! One day on Cortes and the Visitors Info/ Museum is closed Mondays. So we didn't get inside but we did view the garden and some of the displays. The garden itself is glorious - full of flowers and alive with bees and butterflies and the apple tree loaded with ripening fruit - it is an island of beauty and tranquility. If the museum is even half as good as the garden, then I am pretty sure we will have to go back!
Written July 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
How unfortunate you were not able to get inside the museum! Thank you for your comments and wonderful photos submitted of our Heritage Garden. We are pleased you were able to enjoy it and look forward to your return visit to visit inside the museum.
Written October 13, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Heather H
Campbell River, Canada43 contributions
Jun. 2017 • Friends
Very helpful staff. They organized a trip to Mitlenatch Island aboard the Misty Isles boat. The museum is small, but still had room for a great little art show.
Written June 12, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your comments. Misty Isles trips are very popular and we are pleased & fortunate to partner with them. Our recent art display is part of the history exhibition on Refuge Cove. We love that you were able to enjoy the exhibition as well as see Mitlenatch with the Misty Isles!
Written October 13, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
bandaibob
Vancouver, Canada79 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
We stopped in at the visitor centre for a few tips on places to visit while on island and were greeted with loads of information and hospitality. Would have loved to see the exhibit but it is currently being changed. Lots of work ahead for museum staff but I look forward to seeing their finished product.
Written May 26, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for using our visitor information services. It is always a pleasure to meet our island visitors and assist them with island information. We look forward to seeing you again and our exhibit is now ready for viewing.
Written October 13, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
cholland2016
Seattle, WA1 contribution
Aug. 2016 • Couples
The Museum is a must see when on Cortes. The outstanding historical exhibits are enhanced by the dedicated friendly volunteers who tell you even more. The Museum building itself is living history, as a former Mansons Landing store.
We never miss the Museum when on island. You must see it too!
We never miss the Museum when on island. You must see it too!
Written September 19, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
No questions have been asked about this experience