VISITOR INFORMATION
Located on the shores of Okanagan Lake, Summerland is a 15-minute drive from Penticton and 45 minutes from Kelowna.
The Giant’s Head Model Railway on the Museum’s second floor.
Visit us
9521 Wharton Street, Summerland BC, V0H 1Z0
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10 AM – 4 PM
Admission: By donation (suggested $5/adult, $2/child)
What to expect:
Permanent exhibits on the main floor trace the history of this area we now call Summerland from the ancient geological formation of the land through to the mid-twentieth century.
Exhibit themes include Indigenous syilx culture and history, natural history, water, early settlement, the fruit industry, the Kettle Valley Railway, domestic life, and Summerland’s contributions to the World Wars.
On the second floor, discover the magic of the Giant’s Head Model Railway. This fantastic model, which has been built in place since 1999, features scenes of Summerland in the 1920s and 1950s. A delight for children and adults!
Our Gift Shop features an assortment of souvenirs, gift cards, toys, t-shirts, and books. Our most popular items: Summerland apple box label mugs and tote bags!
Have a research question or want to dive in more to Summerland’s history? Feel free to browse the books in our Resource Library, or ask a staff person for assistance at the Research Desk. We have plenty of materials to assist you!
Accessibility Information:
Access to the front doors is available by ramp, and the entrance doors have automatic door openers.
The second floor, where the model railway is housed, is only accessible by stairs.
Accessible, gender-neutral washrooms are available on-site (no change table at this time). Washrooms have lever-style door knobs.
No food or drink is allowed inside the Museum - sorry!
Service animals are welcome in our building.
Backpacks and large bags must be left at the Front Desk.
The Museum exhibits feature dim lighting and are generally very quiet. Our model railway has buttons for making train sounds, which can be heard throughout the museum.
The Museum is a low-odour environment, however artifacts can emit a musty smell.
Getting to the Summerland Museum & Archives:
BY CAR – Exit west off of Hwy 97 onto Prairie Valley Road. Drive for about 1 kilometer until the roundabout, and go straight through the other side onto Wharton St. The Museum is on your left-hand side. For parking, continue past the Art Gallery, and enter the parking lot to the left.
BY BUS – B.C. transit runs a bus from Penticton, with a bus stop just in front of the Museum (Summerland Library). Check out the latest schedule HERE.
Explore Further
Visiting the Summerland Museum? Consider making a day of it, and check out these other historical attractions nearby.
Summerland Community Arts Council Gallery & Gift Shop
With regular gallery shows and a gift shop of unique, hand crafted items, the Summerland Arts Centre is located just meters away from the Museum. It's well worth a visit!
South of Summerland, perched above Okanagan Lake, lies a hidden paradise known as the Summerland Ornamental Gardens. Check out the museum's pamphlet HERE.
Summerland is home to the last remaining stretch of the Kettle Valley Railway! Enjoy a 90 minute excursion on the restored steam train, or one of their themed rides.
The Okanagan's only Classic Car Showroom and Wine Tours. With an inventory of over 100 cars, completely restored, the cars are rotated periodically.
The S.S. Sicamous and S.S. Naramata were once regularly docked at the wharves in Summerland. Today, the two vessels have been beautifully restored in Penticton.