For a town as small as Revelstoke, there sure are a lot of museums to explore! In fact, there are more than twice as many museums in Revelstoke as there are grocery stores (there are only two grocery stores).
After living here for 5 months, I realized I hadn’t made time for any of the museums I likely would have prioritized on a shorter trip. Sometimes it’s hard to be a tourist in the place you’re living. So, before I leave here, I decided to make it a goal to visit all the museums in Revelstoke.
Here is what each of them were like, along with pictures and what to expect. After visiting them all, I can honestly say I think they are all worth a visit if you have time!
Revelstoke Railway Museum
The town of Revelstoke is, and, since the construction on the Canadian Pacific Railway, always has been, a Railway Town. What does this mean? Basically just that the railway and the things that come with it have played an essential role in the development of the town and the lifestyle of the people living here. This has been true from the last spike being placed about 45kms out of town (you can visit this spot heading west on the trans-Canada highway), to one of the railway headquarters being moved here from Donald, the last passenger train driving through town, to modern day when a significant portion of the population is still made up of CP workers.
This also makes the Railway Museum one of the most important museums in Revelstoke. Here you are able to learn all about the history of the Canadian Pacific Railway, Canada’s first transcontinental railway, through two floors of exhibits, the museum’s wide collection of artifacts, model trains, real trains you can walk on, and a train simulator. There are three sections to the museum:
The Main Floor
On the main floor of the Revelstoke Railway Museum you will find information all about the history and construction of the railway through the mountains of western Canada.
There is also two full sized train segments you can explore. First, walk through a business car from back in the day, including sleeping quarters, and dinning cars complete with the menus they would have had. Secondly, there is a steam locomotive to check out.
Additionally, on the main floor you will find a Diesel Locomotive Simulator that you can try for $2, a large photo collection, and a replica Caboose interior. There is also a gift shop, of course.
Outside
Outside of the museum is the Rolling Stock Yard. Here you will walk passed several types of train cars, such as snow plow trains, road repair cars and more. There is signage explaining the function of the different cars, and some of them you are able to enter.
Upstairs
The upstairs of the Revelstoke Railway Museum gives you great views of the first floor, the rolling stock yard and the active train track nearby. This is also where you will find the impressive model railway, complete with tons of tiny details and moving trains, showing off the Revelstoke division of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Upstairs also hosts temporary educational exhibits. Currently they have the “Revelstoke is a Railway Town” exhibit, which focuses on the town itself, both historically and presently.
The Details
Hours: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Daily
Entrance Fee: $14 + tax
Location: 719 Track St W. You will see it when driving down Victoria Road, on the opposite side as downtown.
Website: https://www.railwaymuseum.com/
Revelstoke Museum & Archives
The Revelstoke Museums & Archives is truly all things Revelstoke. It is the traditional small town museum you can find in many towns and cities all over, but really well done. Across the two floors of exhibits (and even in the stairwell between the floors) you’ll find tons of artifacts and information about Revelstoke.
Here you will learn all about how Revelstoke came to be, from the influential people that shaped the town, to how various places (streets, mountains, etc) in the area got their names. You will learn about the buildings, industries, and how life looked in Revelstoke during various points in history. It’s a great place for a “then vs now” comparison.
Exhibits
There are also loads of specialized exhibits, such as an exhibit about avalanche control in Rogers Pass, an exhibit about Mount Revelstoke National Park, and an exhibit about the Sinixt People. There is also quite a lot about the history of skiing in the area, from the famous ski jumping records set here, to the growth of the downhill skiing industry here. Furthermore, there are stories from specific events and people spread throughout the museum.
Travelling Exhibits
The Revelstoke Museum and Archives also has a designated space for rotating exhibits, so there is always something new to check out. When I visited in the summer of 2023, they had an exhibit on BC’s Marvelous Mushrooms. There were tons of fun facts, interesting information, and beautiful pictures depicting the many varieties of mushrooms found in British Columbia.
Gift Shop
There is also a great gift shop in the entrance of the museum. You can find some books about Revelstoke here, as well as lots of other interesting things such as art by local artists.
The Details
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday – Saturday
Entrance Fee: $5
Location: 315 First Street West. About 2 blocks from the visitor’s center, across from Seoul Street Pub and beside Fable Book Parlour.
Website:https://www.revelstokemuseum.ca/
BC Interior Forestry Museum
Forestry is and was a huge industry in British Columbia, as in much of Canada. This museum does a great job at shedding light on what the industry has looked liked over the years in the interior of British Columbia. With both inside and outside exhibits, plus a beautiful riverside forest walk, there is lots to see here.
You will learn all about the different tools and machines used for forestry at different points in time, the different aspects of forestry including various jobs that are involved in the field, and about the types of trees most common in BC.
Inside
Inside the museum is where you will find the most information about the forestry industry. There is details on how logging has changed over time, reforestation, dating trees, some key local players in the industry, how giant logs are transported, and more. There are also some cool artifacts to check out, such as a variety of antique chainsaws, a slice of a 480 year old tree, and a display of the seed of different types of BC trees.
Outside
There is tons more to see outside. First you will find a small fire tower that you can go inside to learn all about fire towers, and what the job of working in one entailed. Then, as you walk around the grounds, you can explore all the different machinery used for forestry over the years. Each machine has information posted with it explaining what it did and how. There is also a viewpoint out here overlooking the Revelstoke dam, nearby mountains, and the Columbia river.
Riverside Forest Walk
Associated with the museum is a small network of trails. There is a main loop, called the Riverside Forest Walk, with some small loops and pathways coming off it. You can easily walk to the trailhead from the museum, about 500m away, or you can drive to another parking lot. The trail is really beautiful, with big, and occasionally oddly-shaped, trees, mossy forest floors, views of the powerful, blue, Columbia River, and a few information signs scattered throughout.
Ps. If you look across the river from one of the benches, you can see the place the trail at Moses Falls comes out.
The Details
Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday
Entrance Fee: By donation
Location: 5205 HWY 23 North, 5kms north of Revelstoke on Highway 23, beside the Revelstoke Dam.
Website: https://www.bcforestrymuseum.ca/
Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre
The Revelstoke Dam is one of the most powerful hydroelectric dams in British Columbia. Situated on the Columbia River, and working in conjunction with the Mica Dam, another of the most powerful dams in British Columbia, it has a capacity of 2,480 MW. Of course, that number might not mean much to you. Luckily, when you go to visit they break down the numbers with tangible descriptions.
Though there is a great museum section in the Revelstoke Dam Visitor Centre, detailing the construction, functioning & history of the dam, what sets it aside from the other museums in Revelstoke on this list is the guided tours you can take.
What To Expect From The Tour
The guided tours run 4 times at day, at 10:30, 11:30, 1:30 and 2:30, and last for about an hour. If you can’t make it for one of these times, or prefer to explore on your own, there are also audio tours available in several languages. Plus there is good signage along the way. But if you can make a tour I definitely recommend it as the friendly staff can answer any questions you have along the way.
On the tour, you start by heading downstairs to a gallery of photos and information, outlining the construction process of the dam. This includes the demand for the dam, the timelines of the work, what the work included, budgets, sourcing materials, the lifestyles of the workers, and what has changed since. This section of the tour also gives some insight into the magnitude of the dam, how it works (including how it is affected by the upstream Mica Dam), and more.
Then, you will walk through the inside of the dam – be prepared to get a bit cold in here! It won’t last too long through before you make your way to the top of the dam via an elevator. From here you will get a breathtaking downstream view of the Columbia River Valley. You guide will talk to you about the reservoir of water above the dam, known as Lake Revelstoke, the water spilling process, and the different power units of the dam.
Then you’d head back down and are able to look through a window into the middle of the dam to see the various power units. Your guide will tell you about a few more things before ending the tour and letting you explore the interactive educational exhibits.
What You’ll Find In The Museum
In the museum section you will find more information on the construction & functioning of the dam, including interactive exhibits that show how the dam works. There is also a first nations gallery which discusses the history, culture, traditions, and current day experiences of the Secwepemc (Shuswap), Okanagan and Ktunaxa peoples.
And, of course, you will also find a gift shop here.
The Details
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 7 days a week, only in the summer (May 20th – September 4th 2023)
Entrance Fee: $8 (includes the tour)
Location: 5kms north of Revelstoke on Highway 23
Website: https://www.bchydro.com/community/recreation_areas/visitor-centres/revelstoke-visitor-centre.html
Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre
Now I might be stretching the definition of museum a little with this one, but the Visual Arts Centre is another great place to check out. There are 4 rooms for exhibits, with a rotating selection every month or so. The get local artists in a variety of mediums. Then, in December they have a craft fair in the whole place, perfect for Christmas shopping.
There is also a gift shop with even more local art, so it is kind of like part of the gallery.
The Details
Hours: 12pm – 6pm Wednesday – Friday, 10am – 4pm Saturday & Sunday
Entrance Fee: Recommended donation of $5
Location: 320 Wilson Street, near the western exit into town.
Website: https://revelstokeartgallery.ca/
Bonus: Revelstoke Outdoor Art Movement (ROAM)
Scattered around Revelstoke, there is a of art to be found. This is curtesy of the Revelstoke Outdoor Art Movement. While it’s not quite one of the museums in Revelstoke, I thought it was worth a mention, mostly because it’s really cool.
Whether you are walking around town, exploring nearby nature trails, or hitting the slopes at Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR), keep your eyes peeled. There are works of art to be found all over the place!
Other things to Do in Revelstoke
Revelstoke is a paradise for outdoor activity lovers! In the winter hit up the amazing ski hill, try snowshoeing, or go snowmobiling. In the summer check out the many hikes, try the world class mountain bikes trails, go paddleboard, hit the beach, or experience the pipe coaster at the resort.
Plus check out these other posts about Revelstoke:
- Best Waterfalls in Revelstoke (Including Hidden Gems).
- The Best Revelstoke Beaches for Swimming and Relaxing
- Best Restaurants to Try on Your Trip to Revelstoke
Let me know which of these museums in Revelstoke you would most want to visit!
