Museum of Vancouver 🇨🇦

Step into the Museum of Vancouver (MOV), Canada's largest urban museum and the oldest museum in Vancouver, located in Vanier Park within the Kitsilano neighborhood. Originally founded in 1894, MOV offers an honest, engaging exploration of what Vancouver was, is, and can be. Housed inside an iconic 1967 New Formalist building designed by Gerald Hamilton—instantly recognizable by its sweeping conical roof, reflecting pools, and pedestrian bridges—the museum shares a building complex with the H. R.

MacMillan Space Centre while occupying the majority of the space. Inside, you will experience permanent historical galleries covering Vancouver's past through immersive experiences, sound, and film. Discover the popular Neon Vancouver gallery, which showcases historic commercial neon signs from the 1950s to 1970s. MOV holds roughly 80,000 objects, including significant ethnological, Asian, and Ancient Egyptian collections—such as a 1st-to-3rd century CE mummified boy and mummified animals.

You can also explore temporary, community-focused exhibitions like *c̓əsnaʔəm, the city before the city* and *The Work of Repair*, which highlight Indigenous histories, community engagement, and ongoing repatriation efforts. It is a vital gathering space for learning about the city's diverse communities.

What to see at Museum of Vancouver

• Canada's largest urban museum, originally founded in 1894
• Iconic New Formalist architecture featuring a distinctive conical roof and reflecting pools
• Neon Vancouver gallery displaying vintage city neon signs from the 1950s–1970s
• Extensive collections including ancient Egyptian mummies and Pacific Northwest First Nations artifacts
• Exhibitions highlighting Indigenous culture, history, and active repatriation efforts

Visiting tips

Do not confuse the venue with just a space center; while MOV shares an entrance foyer with the H. R. MacMillan Space Centre, the museum occupies most of the iconic building.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Early morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Museum of Vancouver is easy to reach on Vancouver’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Museum of Anthropology at UBC and Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary, Vancouver. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Vancouver travel guide.