“Lovely, relevant, educational. Two thumbs up!”

— Jennifer D. Victoria, BC

Our Collection

Browse our Collection

One of the most important things the museum does is preserve local artifacts and archival materials. Although the museum cannot ever display everything due to space constraints, we continue to make the collection accessible by adding information to a database known as eHive. Museums worldwide use eHive to catalogue and publish their collections online. As the Pender Islands Museum continues to catalogue and research its artifacts, please explore what we have on the eHive database.

Browse our Photos

The museum also has a large number of historic photos. We have made over 250 available online. We hope to add to this collection in the future. To request a specific photo that isn’t online, please contact the museum at pendermuseum@shaw.ca.

We are always interested in collecting artifacts and records that tell the stories of what life was like on the Pender Islands. To donate items, please get in touch at pendermuseum@shaw.ca. Find our acquisition policy and our acquisition form here.

Some archival information related to the Pender Islands is kept at the Royal BC Museum Provincial Archives. Search on Royal BC Museum/Pender Islands.

Pender Timeline

What was happening on Pender the year you were born? Find out by exploring the Pender timeline.

We’ve combed through books and archival records to put together a chronology of over 350 entries related to significant events. In some cases, we’ve also added a relevant historical photo.

On the timeline, you are able to filter according to keyword, year, or era. Check it out here.

Take a Closer Look: 4 Artifacts Worth Seeing

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Since Time Immemorial

Archaeologists unearthed this sandstone whale carving on SDÁ,YES in the mid-1980s. While the figure’s specific purpose is lost to time, we know it comes from an ancient Indigenous community that created the earliest known expressions of Northwest Coast art.

A Lucky Spin at the Store

Shoppers at the Port Washington General Store eagerly awaited the pre-Christmas spin of the old bike wheel in hopes it would land on their ticket number. The prize? Bags of groceries valued according to the 5, 10 or 15-cent ticket cost. The festive tradition endured for over 50 years.

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Off to School

A 5-pound tin of lard—rendered pig fat—was standard fare in settler kitchens. Once empty and cleaned, the tin went on to a whole new life, most often as a lunch pail for Pender school kids.

Cool, eh?

Keeping food cool was a challenge on an island without refrigeration before the introduction of electricity in 1956. Enter this ingenious butter keeper. Immersed in water, the clay absorbs moisture. As the water evaporates, the butter inside stays at or below room temperature.

Claypot

Open Times

  • Easter thru Victoria Day, Sat, Sun & holiday Mondays 1-4
  • Victoria Day to end June, Sat, Sun, & Holiday Mondays, 10-4
  • July & August Fri – Sun + Holidays 10-4
  • Labour Day to October 13: Sat, Sun & Holiday Mondays 1-4
  • To arrange a visit outside of regular open times, please call 250.217.0823 or email 
    pendermuseum@shaw.ca

Admission

Admission to the museum is by donation. ($5/person or $20/family suggested)

Group visits (summer camps, large family groups, tour groups): $10/person for guided tour and special programs.

Location & Email

2408 South Otter Bay Road
Pender Island, V0N 2M1

pendermuseum@shaw.ca

Or call 1.250.629.6935 
(during open hours only)

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