The Summerland Museum will be hosting a stall at the Summerland Rotary Market on Main St in downtown Summerland every Sunday, 9am to 1pm, throughout the summer. Come to say “Hi” and check out our gift shop merchandise

Have you seen the Kettle Valley Railway? This wonderful attraction of Summerland was once the main mode of transport for the Okanagan area! The KVR transport goods all across the Okanagan, to various stations around the area, or towards the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) where it can be transported even across the country!

Beyond the simple transport of goods, these railways would allow for a lot of people to move into the area! Many from across Canada would be able to more easily move into and set up in the Okanagan for living. People from all over in Great Britain would be able to transport from the east coast all the way to the Okanagan on these rail systems.

The function of Trains is fascinating, and the system of railroads around BC is equally complex, which is why we're hosting the Summerland Trains and Railways Event this Saturday, August 30th, from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, right here at the Summerland Museum!

The Summerland Museum will be hosting a stall at the Summerland Rotary Market on Main St in downtown Summerland every Sunday, 9am to 1pm, throughout the summer. Come to say “Hi” and check out our gift shop merchandise

Here at the Museum we have artifacts from across Summerland's history, most of which from the 1800s over into the early 1900s, when life was very different to what we have today! This time period was right at the advent of electricity, so most things were still hand crafted.
Artifacts like tools for cobbling shoes, manual cameras, hunting gear, and candle lights were essentials that we no longer use today!
If you want to step back into that time, use some of these old tools, and experience some of that life, come to our Summerland Museum Multi-Station, where we have all sorts of artifacts from that time! Saturday, August 23rd, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The Summerland Museum will be hosting a stall at the Summerland Rotary Market on Main St in downtown Summerland every Sunday, 9am to 1pm, throughout the summer. Come to say “Hi” and check out our gift shop merchandise

The North American West Coast was a treasure trove of gold! After their initial settling of the "New World", European explorers continued their exploration of the Americas, and what they found shocked them: Heaps of Gold! Most commonly in California and British Columbia, the discovery of this gold is one of the main motivators for the push west throughout North America.

This gold discovery shaped much of the territory of British Columbia that we live in today. Most notably, the 1858 Fraser River Gold Rush was one of the main motivators for immigrants into the British Columbia area, including Summerland! While orcharding and winemaking has always been more our specialty, the presence of Gold is part of what attracted people to the area, and part of what built the infrastructure to this province.

Evidently, gold is a very important part of British Columbian history! Learn more about this vital part of our history, this Saturday, August 16th, from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM right here at the Summerland Museum!

The Summerland Museum will be hosting a stall at the Summerland Rotary Market on Main St in downtown Summerland every Sunday, 9am to 1pm, throughout the summer. Come to say “Hi” and check out our gift shop merchandise

With the coming of the Summerland Museum's 60th Anniversary, we decided that it would be great to revisit some of our Museum's best moments, from the far past all the way to the modern day. From big, historical moments to seasonal holiday traditions, our museum, much like Summerland itself has a rich history that deserves to be explored.

With 60 whole years of work and records under our belt, the museum has grown a lot, and in many ways. Come with us to celebrate this development this Saturday, August 9th, from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at our History of Summerland Museum Event!

The Summerland Museum will be hosting a stall at the Summerland Rotary Market on Main St in downtown Summerland every Sunday, 9am to 1pm, throughout the summer. Come to say “Hi” and check out our gift shop merchandise

The telegraph revolutionised global communication! Sending a message from Canada to the UK went from taking weeks of sending a letter by sea to taking a few hours by tapping a few buttons. But how does the telegraph work, and why was it so important to Summerland?

Summerland is a town largely shaped by transportation. The Kettle Valley and Canadian Pacific Railways' development in Summerland vastly changed the rate of development of the down, allowing more people to enter and development the town. Furthermore, the Okanagan Lake was the source of some large shipping lanes across western Canada. The introduction of the Telegraph allowed for people on these modes of transport to communicate to each other, and more easily coordinate communication, such as between rail and boat.

Beyond simply Summerland as well, the Telegraph allowed for Canada to actually communicate with the UK and Europe at large with ease, coordinating visits or event much easier than previously possible.

Stop by the Summerland Museum Saturday, August 2nd from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM for our full history of the Telegraph event for even more information!

The Summerland Museum will be hosting a stall at the Summerland Rotary Market on Main St in downtown Summerland every Sunday, 9am to 1pm, throughout the summer. Come to say “Hi” and check out our gift shop merchandise

At the Summerland Museum Native Okanagan Animals Workshop Event, you will be able to learn all about the animals that are native to the Okanagan, as well their habitats, way of life, and inter-species interactions!

Of course, we can't talk about the way of life of our animals without talking about the ways in which we interact with them, we are animals after all! Humans have greatly affected the lives of the animals native to the Okanagan, mostly in negative ways, however in recent years we have made an active effort to conserve and improve the lives of all of these animals native to the Okanagan!

Humans have also caused the vast effects of climate change, which have drastically affected the lives of these animals. From global warming to forest fires, ocean acidification, melting ice caps, and habitat loss, climate change has been disastrous to all most species here in the Okanagan and BC and Canada as a whole.

If you're interesting about our native animal live and how we can protect it, join us this Saturday, July 26th, from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM right here in the Summerland Museum for our Native Okanagan Animals Workshop Event, where you can learn all about them!

The Summerland Museum will be hosting a stall at the Summerland Rotary Market on Main St in downtown Summerland every Sunday, 9am to 1pm, throughout the summer. Come to say “Hi” and check out our gift shop merchandise

Summerland’s History is and always will be forever tied with the history of its orchards, vineyards and fruit ranches. Since its early years, orchards began propping up around Summerland, and in fact all across the Okanagan valley, due to its particular climate that rendered it near perfect for the growth of summer fruits such as peaches, apricots or cherries. From Millionaires’ row to Dirty Laundry, our orchards and vineyards shaped not only Summerland’s History, but also it’s development and finance.

Of course, the qualities of these fruits are also important, which is why in this event we will talk about the details and history of all these fruits vital to the Okanagan, and why it is that they grow so perfectly right here in the Valley.

So stop by, this Saturday, July 19th at the Summerland Museum for our History of Summerland’s Fruits event from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM, and learn all about these delicious fruits we are oh so proud of!

The Summerland Museum will be hosting a stall at the Summerland Rotary Market on Main St in downtown Summerland every Sunday, 9am to 1pm, throughout the summer. Come to say “Hi” and check out our gift shop merchandise

With the wildfire season starting across BC and particularly in the Okanagan, we at the Summerland Museum believe that this is the perfect time to host our Fire Awareness Event!

This Saturday July 12th, from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM come join us for our Fire Awareness Event, where we will teach some basic fire safety and fire awareness information, as well as a more thorough history of wildfires in and around Summerland, and throughout Canada as well. We will also have firefighting-related activities for kids, such as crosswords or word searches, relating to information taught during the wildfire awareness event

The Power of Water: Geology Field Trip #2 focuses on the glacial geology of Summerland and the challenges associated with harnessing our most valuable resource. Discover how glaciation has shaped the Okanagan with local expert, geologist Andrew Holder, and learn about the town's water supply with a tour of the Summerland Water Treatment Plant.
The contingent will meet at the Summerland Museum at 10 am, and a map of the meeting spots will be provided. Participants will drive their own cars or carpool with others. There will be minimal to no walking.
At 1pm the group will meet at Bread and Cheese for lunch and discussion. Included in the registration fee is a lunch and a soft drink.

This new tour is a must for all of you who have enjoyed our original Geology Field Trip (there's so much more geology to discover!), but participation on the original tour is not required for this Field Trip - they are stand-alone tours.

Registration: $55 per person regular or $50 per person for SMAS Members
Space is limited in this tour - to register, please call 250-494-9395 or visit us in-person at the Museum Tuesday - Saturday, 10am -4pm

The Summerland Museum will be hosting a stall at the Summerland Rotary Market on Main St in downtown Summerland every Sunday, 9am to 1pm, throughout the summer. Come to say “Hi” and check out our gift shop merchandise

Come see the history of Summerland's schools through an interactive timeline event going through the creation and retirement of all of Summerland's schools, from 2025 all the way back to 1903. Learn about the creation of our school board to the demolition of Giant's Head Elementary through visual slides and informational activities for kids!

We will also be sharing stories about schools in Summerland from past to present! Feel free to share any and all interesting stories about you or your parents' school experience at info@summerlandmuseum.org, and come see those experiences alongside those of others, to see how schooling has changed so much since school first came to Summerland in 1903.

Come stop by this Saturday, July 5th from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM at the Summerland Museum & Archives Society for this fun event for the history of schools in Summerland!

Celebate the diversity of Canada this Canada Day, by immersing yourself in the history and heritage of Summerland at the Summerland Museum and Archives.

The Summerland Museum will be hosting a stall at the Summerland Rotary Market on Main St in downtown Summerland every Sunday, 9am to 1pm, throughout the summer. Come to say “Hi” and check out our gift shop merchandise!

Do you want to learn more about the fish native to Okanagan lake, and the Okanagan river basin? Are you curious about the ways the salmon and trout migrate through this territory for spawning, or about their general life cycle and behaviors? Head down here to the Summerland Museum on Saturday, June 28th from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM for our Salmon & Okanagan Fish Workshop!

This Workshop includes details about many fish species native to the Okanagan, such as the Sockeye Salmon, Chinook Salmon, Kokanee Salmon, Steelhead Trout, and Rainbow Trout. We will also have coloring activities and other tactile activities for kids, as well as maps and diagrams with for detailed and interesting information about these native fish species.

Get ready for the summer with an engaging, water-based activity to cool things down!

Looking for a fun outdoor activity this weekend? Join us at the museum on Saturday, June 21, from 10 AM-4 PM for Art is Alive: Native Plant Workshop! A vibrant, drop-in where art, nature, history, and Indigeneity come together in a beautiful outdoor event.

Held in partnership with the Gardens and Beyond Summerland Community Garden Tour and the Summerland Community Arts Council, this workshop coincides with National Indigenous Peoples Day and the Summer Solstice, an important time to reflect on connections between land, culture, and creativity.

Come get your hands dirty, your mind inspired, and your senses awakened. More details coming soon!

Drop in for our Morse Code In Action Workshop and explore the history of telegraph communication in our Train Station Exhibit. Discover how the telegraph works and how it was used, then try your hand at Morse Code with our working telegraph, located inside the original West Summerland KVR Station ticket booth!

As part of the Alberta Line Project, we are connected to 11 museums and heritage organizations across British Columbia and Alberta. The workshop will be led by telegraph expert Timothy Taylor at the museum, in coordination with Kevin Jepson, the project’s technical lead in Calgary. The Summerland Museum will be communicating with visitors at Heritage Park in Calgary throughout the workshop.

Once you’ve mastered the telegraph, put your skills to the test by creating your own Morse Code bracelet! Use different colored beads to represent dots and dashes, crafting a secret message in Morse Code.

The Power of Water: Geology Field Trip #2 focuses on the glacial geology of Summerland and the challenges associated with harnessing our most valuable resource. Discover how glaciation has shaped the Okanagan with local expert, geologist Andrew Holder, and learn about the town's water supply with a tour of the Summerland Water Treatment Plant.
The contingent will meet at the Summerland Museum at 10 am, and a map of the meeting spots will be provided. Participants will drive their own cars or carpool with others. There will be minimal to no walking.
At 1pm the group will meet at Bread and Cheese for lunch and discussion. Included in the registration fee is a lunch and a soft drink.

This new tour is a must for all of you who have enjoyed our original Geology Field Trip (there's so much more geology to discover!), but participation on the original tour is not required for this Field Trip - they are stand-alone tours.

Registration: $55 per person regular or $50 per person for SMAS Members
Space is limited in this tour - to register, please call 250-494-9395 or visit us in-person at the Museum Tuesday - Saturday, 10am -4pm

This event has been POSTPONED until later in the year. More details coming soon!

Unfortunately, we will not be open today due to staff illness. We apologise for the inconvenience.

Enjoy Action Fest this weekend, and we'll see you for normal hours (Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm) next week.

The Museum will be closing early. Opening hours today 10am - 2pm. Back to regular hours tomorrow.