Chilliwack Museum and Archives

Chilliwack Museum and Archives The Chilliwack Museum & Archives is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Ts’elxwéyeqw and Pelólhxw communities of the Stó:lō.

We are thankful for the opportunity to live and learn on this territory. We are the community Museum and Archives for Chilliwack. Housed in a national historic site - the former Chilliwack City Hall, our Museum delivers programs to schools and showcases relevant historical, cultural and art exhibits in our galleries. Our new purpose-built Archives facility houses the the largest collection of impo

rtant objects and archival materials in the Fraser Valley. We are visited by people all over the world and our collections are important to authors, historians, artists, students, universities, researchers, genealogists, governments, lawyers, local museums, Stó:lō and of course - you!

🎨 Unleash Your Creativity: Found Object Painting Workshop! 🚗✨Who says you need a paintbrush to make a masterpiece? Join ...
08/12/2026

🎨 Unleash Your Creativity: Found Object Painting Workshop! 🚗✨

Who says you need a paintbrush to make a masterpiece? Join our Museum Attendant, Erin Caskey, for a hands-on, imagination-sparking workshop where ordinary household objects become extraordinary art tools!

Learn how to roll toy car tires across paint, create intricate patterns with doilies, and discover that inspiration can really come from anywhere.

This family-friendly event is open to all ages (and perfect for families!).

🗓 When: August 22 & September 19
⏰ Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
📍 Where: 45820 Spadina Ave, Chilliwack, BC V2P 1T3

Bring your curiosity and let’s get creative! Tap the link below to learn more and reserve your spot. 👇
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/found-object-painting-workshop-tickets-1997770992818?aff=oddtdtcreator

Then VS Now A lot has changed in over 100 years, don’t you think? Back in 1903, looking down Yale Road towards Five Corn...
08/12/2026

Then VS Now A lot has changed in over 100 years, don’t you think?

Back in 1903, looking down Yale Road towards Five Corners, you would’ve only seen a couple of buildings, like the post office and St. Thomas Anglican Church, dirt roads and people travelling by horse and cart. Fast forward to 2026, new buildings fill the empty spaces, the streets are paved and it’s probably been some time since horses trotted through downtown.

But the unmistakable Five Corners layout gives it away. Even with some of the historic buildings being gone, downtown Chilliwack is still easy to recognize.

Chilliwack Museum and Archives, P524

How much food could you buy with one of these little blue tokens?During and after the Second World War, everyday items l...
08/07/2026

How much food could you buy with one of these little blue tokens?

During and after the Second World War, everyday items like meat, butter, sugar, and tea were carefully rationed across Canada. Between 1945 and 1947, families used coupon booklets to purchase certain foods, and these blue tokens were given as change when a full coupon wasn't needed.

These particular tokens belonged to George McLindon, who immigrated from Ireland to Canada in 1912. He served with the Canadian military during the First World War and later worked in a foundry during the Second World War. Every weekend, George returned home to Yarrow, where he supplemented his food supply by hunting and fishing.

Small objects like these can tell surprisingly big stories. They remind us that wartime wasn't only experienced on distant battlefields; it shaped daily life here at home, influencing how families shopped, cooked, and made do with what they had.

What everyday item from your own life do you think could tell a story 80 years from now?

Chilliwack Museum and Archives, 2017.056.042

Today at 3:00 PM Go behind the scenes with a free guided tour of the Chilliwack Museum & Archives.Learn how photographs,...
07/31/2026

Today at 3:00 PM

Go behind the scenes with a free guided tour of the Chilliwack Museum & Archives.

Learn how photographs, maps, documents, and community records are preserved, and hear some of the stories they continue to tell. It's a chance to see the work of the Archives up close and gain a new perspective on the history that connects our community.

The Archives located at Evergreen Hall | 9291 Corbould St.
We'd love to welcome you - No registration required, just stop by!

“Everybody has a story to tell.”— Jacqueline, Chilliwack Community Services, Immigrant ServicesWhat stories shape our co...
07/31/2026

“Everybody has a story to tell.”
— Jacqueline, Chilliwack Community Services, Immigrant Services

What stories shape our community? Which memories do we carry forward, and which risk being forgotten?

Collecting Memory in Gallery Two is an interactive, community-centered exhibition that invites you to share your experiences, reflect on the moments that matter, and help build a richer understanding of life in S’ólh Téméxw.

Explore artifacts, photographs, and hands-on storytelling activities as you contribute your voice to a growing collection of community memories. Together, we're reimagining the museum as a living archive, one where history is not only preserved, but continuously created through the stories we choose to share.

Be part of the conversation. Be part of the story.

"Each painting explores the dynamics of viewership and what it means to look and to see... Increasingly, I am interested...
07/31/2026

"Each painting explores the dynamics of viewership and what it means to look and to see... Increasingly, I am interested in concepts of how identity and meaning evolves across time and intergenerational memory and experience." — Cara Guri

We're excited to share a first look at the inaugural Chilliwack Museum Window Residency.

Launching this summer, the Window Residency transforms the Museum's street-facing windows into a space for contemporary artistic practice, inviting artists to engage with our collections and bring new perspectives into the public realm.

Our inaugural resident artist, Cara Guri, has created a vibrant installation inspired by hand-embroidered textiles, quilts, and domestic objects preserved in the Chilliwack Museum + Archives collection. Layering historic textile patterns with native Fraser Valley plants and wildflowers, her work reflects on women's domestic labour, cultural memory, and the ways stories are carried across generations.

Visible from Spadina Avenue day and night, the installation extends the Museum beyond its walls; offering an invitation to pause, look closely, and connect with the histories woven into our community.

Stay tuned for special programming to come, and workshops with Cara. Read her full artists statement on our website to learn about Cara's artistic process, and the remarkable collection that inspired the work.
https://www.chilliwackmuseum.ca/exhibitions/current-exhibits/

What stories are waiting in the Archives?Join us this Friday for a free guided tour and get a behind-the-scenes look at ...
07/28/2026

What stories are waiting in the Archives?

Join us this Friday for a free guided tour and get a behind-the-scenes look at how Chilliwack's history is preserved and cared for. From photographs and maps to newspapers, letters, and community records, the Archives hold thousands of pieces that help tell the story of our community.

Whether you're interested in local history, family research, or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes, we'd love to welcome you.

Friday, July 31, at 3:00 PM, Chilliwack Archives located in Evergreen Hall at 9291 Corbould Street. Free | No registration required

🌿 A little sneak peek...Our newest Window Residency installation is now up, bringing together local wildflowers, Museum ...
07/28/2026

🌿 A little sneak peek...
Our newest Window Residency installation is now up, bringing together local wildflowers, Museum collections, and contemporary art in a beautiful new conversation. Here's a first glimpse of Interwoven by artist Cara Guri.

Stay tuned this Thursday as we share the full story behind the installation, the artist, and the inspiration behind each window.

🍬 Sweet Summer Fun is back! 🍿🎬This year, we’re putting a spin on our usual sweets and switching gears to theatre snacks ...
07/23/2026

🍬 Sweet Summer Fun is back! 🍿🎬

This year, we’re putting a spin on our usual sweets and switching gears to theatre snacks & candy to celebrate our new rotating exhibit, Curtain Call! 🎭✨

Come learn all about Chilliwack’s historic theatres and local groups that are letting their creativity flow through film, stage, and performance!

🗓️ July 28 – August 8 (10:00 AM - 3:00 PM/7:00 PM on Thursdays)
📍 Chilliwack Museum (45820 Spadina Ave)

What to expect:
🎨 Fun crafts & outdoor activities
🔍 Museum scavenger hunt
🍿 Popcorn-Counting Contest for a chance to win a pair of tickets to "The Baby Tyler Show: A Puppet Show for All Ages" at the Chilliwack Arts & Cultural Centre!

All ages are welcome; no registration necessary!

From hotel guests to apartment residents, the corner of Young Rd South and Princess Ave has been welcoming people to Chi...
07/21/2026

From hotel guests to apartment residents, the corner of Young Rd South and Princess Ave has been welcoming people to Chilliwack for over a century.

In the early 1900’s, Chilliwack was growing fast, and the city needed another hotel to lodge the increasing number of visitors. In the summer of 1908, the Empress Hotel was born and was ready to open its doors to the public on September 3rd of the same year.

The Empress was located less than 100 metres from the new BCER (British Columbia Electric Railway) Terminal Station, so the Empress quickly became the obvious place to stay for travellers.

At the time, it instantly stood out as the newest, most modern, and best-located hotel in the community. Fully electrified and completely illuminated from top to bottom every night, the Empress was quite the sight. And for a city that was newly electrified, you could imagine how impressive this would have been.

Through the years, the hotel had an impressive guest list, including King George V, King George VI, Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth and even Charlie Chaplin.

After serving Chilliwack for nearly 100 years, the Empress Hotel was demolished in 2010.

Yet in a fitting full-circle moment, the site continues to provide a place to stay, now as the Empress apartment buildings. Do you remember the Empress Hotel? Or did you ever stay there? Share your memories below.

Chilliwack Museum and Archives, P840, P847, 2015.063.146 + 2015.063.145

Address

45820 Spadina Avenue
Chilliwack, BC
V2P1T3

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 10am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 4:30am
Thursday 9am - 4:30pm
Friday 9am - 4:30pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+16047955210

Website

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