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A History of Modernization
A HISTORY OF MODERNIZATION 1908
The provincial archives were established as a separate institution, mandated to collect material of provincial significance.
1886
The provincial museum was established. It was housed in a single room adjoining the provincial secretary’s office in the capitol buildings, which were nicknamed “the Birdcages”. John Fannin, an avid outdoorsman and collector and a gifted taxidermist, was appointed its first curator.
1913
The provincial government proclaimed the Museum Act, defining the museum’s objectives: to secure and preserve specimens illustrating the natural history of the province, to collect anthropological material relating to the Indigenous peoples of the province, and to obtain information respecting the natural sciences.
1941
Thunderbird Park was created at the corner of Douglas and Belleville streets for the display of totem poles. In 1952, anthropology curator Wilson Duff initiated a pole restoration program and hired Kwakwa ¯ ka‘wakw master carver Mungo ¯ Martin as chief carver for Thunderbird Park.
1963–1968
As the museum continued to grow and to attract more visitors, the province recognized that the time had come for it to expand. In 1963, Premier Bennett announced plans to build a new museum and archives as a Canadian Centennial project. The doors opened in 1968.
1977
The First Peoples galleries and Old Town opened to the public.
1979
Living Land, Living Sea, the first phase of the permanent natural history galleries, opened, including the installation of Woolly the Mammoth!
2003
Proclamation of a new museum act. The BC Archives, Helmcken House, the Netherlands Centennial Carillon, Thunderbird Park, St. Ann’s Schoolhouse and the Royal BC Museum came together as the Royal BC Museum Corporation.
Sept 18, 2020
The Province of BC announced the new Collections and Research Building to be located in Colwood, BC, as the first step in the museum modernization project. Royal BC Museum began the process of modernizing the human history galleries with the closure of the third floor— the first step in the work of telling the true histories of all people in British Columbia.
