Burnaby Village Museum
Burnaby Village Museum
Visit this museum to experience a time travel to the 1920s. Formerly known as Heritage Village, the 10-acre site is at Deer Lake Park Lane. It has a village, a meadow, and countryside with buildings and exhibits that reflect the ancient history of Burnaby.
Once you step into this open-air museum, you get to explore different places and learn many histories. Get welcomed by staff in ‘20s costume, listen to age-old stories, and ride in the century-old carousel. Visit the theatre to watch ‘20 movies or learn about BC’s oldest surviving steam locomotive, Old Curly.
Burnaby Village Museum operates seasonally, and admission is primarily free. Not only perfect for all ages, but the attractions here are also budget-friendly.
Brief History of the Museum
Burnaby Village Museum opened its doors in 1971, standing next to Heritage Homes and Deer Lake. The village has about 31 buildings—some carried from other sites and brought to the museum. Some buildings and artifacts are initially from the 1920s, while they remodeled others.
Key Places To Visit in the Museum1. C.W Parker Carousel
Feel younger by taking a ride on this vintage indoor carousel. This 1912 hand sculptured classic is the 119th carousel built by C.W Parker Company in Kansas. It went through many states in the USA before arriving in a Vancouver amusement park in 1936 and then in Playland, another amusement park.
Playland disclosed their intention to dismantle the exhibit and sell each horse in an auction in 1989. But a fundraiser started by Friends of the Vancouver Carousel Society saved it, each donor naming a horse after supporting the movement. Finally, in 1990, the ride came to Burnaby Village Museum.
When you get there, you’ll notice one horse in the carousel was unrestored. It is in a display box to show visitors the horses' former looks before their restoration.
Taking a ride on this popular exhibit boils down to a small fee.
2. Seaforth School
Learn the daily activities of the students of Seaforth School back in the 1920s, a school that opened in 1922 with 20 students. They moved the school building from the north side of Burnaby to the museum and renovated it, becoming a public exhibit in 1987.
The school has a British flag and wall pictures of King George V and Queen Mary since Canada was a British colony.
The average school day at the time begins with kids singing the "God Save The King" anthem and the "Lord's Prayer." The teacher examines their hygiene, after which students settle down for lessons, writing with pens dipped in an inkwell.
During breaks, students had meals like cheese, bread, and apples wrapped in pieces of cloth or put in tins and baskets. Hopscotch and marbles were popular games at that period.
You can engage your kids in the Seaforth School program, where basic school kids play-act the typical school day of the 1920s. Singing the anthem or reciting the Lord's prayer is not mandatory, though.
3. Interurban Tram #1223
Explore the Interurban Tram barn, a central transportation system for goods and persons during the early 20th century. B.C. Electric owned the Interurban Tram #1223, and it is one of the seven such exhibits left. They restored the antique in 2000, and it functions properly.
4. The Burnaby Post
The "Burnaby Post" is a village newspaper from the 1920s. Printing jobs were harder then because of the manual setting of paper types. Each publication took up to a week to set up and print. Visit the building to see the printing machine in action.
5. The Elworth Manor
This beautiful house and garage were one of the Heritage Houses before the City of Burnaby bought them in 1970. Elworth House (1922) was the home of Edwin and Mary Bateman. Bateman, a former Canadian Pacific Railway administrator, named the house after his hometown in England.
6. Old Curly Locomotive
This 19th-century locomotive is the oldest existing steam train; it was part of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
7. Church
A representation of a 1920s church for weddings and other events.
8. Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee
A Chinese herbalist shop with relics from an ancient store in Victoria.
9. War Memorial Fountain
Burnaby Civic Employees Union built this fountain in 1923. You’ll love to see it.
10. Bell's Dry Goods
Built around 1922, this dry-good store originally belonged to Flora and William Bell.
11. Jesse Love Farmhouse
Find out which crops were growing in the days of old when you visit Jesse and Martha Love's 1893 farmhouse.
12. Japanese Ofuro
A model Japanese bathhouse built in dedication to the first Japanese settler who arrived in BC in 1877.
13. Vorce Tram Station
A renovated 1911 station from the Burnaby Lake interurban line.
14. Other attractions include...
Amenities
The museum has a gift shop, and the restrooms are at different locations on the site. There is an ice cream parlour and restaurant. You can rent the parlour and a multi-purpose space for special occasions.
You can rent the shops for weddings and other events, and it seats roughly 80 people. There is a parking lot, and the museum premises are wheelchair-accessible.
When to Visit the Burnaby Village Museum
This village museum opens seasonally from early May to September, 11 am to 4:30 pm. Summer is an excellent time to visit as the museum is open from Tuesday to Friday, including holiday Mondays.
You can also visit during Halloween in October or during Christmas for the delightful Heritage Christmas Celebration from late November to January 1st. But, it does not open on the 24th and 25th of December. Spring break and national holidays are another great time to come by.
Entry is always free during the Summer and Christmas, but the Halloween event is premium.
All in all, visitors in pre-booked programs can actually visit all year round.
Events
Burnaby Village has different exciting events you wouldn't want to miss. It is hosting an event called Eerie Illusions between October 22nd and 31st in 2021. It features a magical environment that includes special effects, high-quality projections, and more. There are many food vendors on site as well. The Eerie Illusions Haunted Village Halloween event is a fun time for the kids.
They decorate the museum with Halloween scenes, adornments, and special effects. It features Halloween characters in the streets and display windows, live entertainment, and free carousel rides.
Enjoy the Christmas season at the Museum Heritage Christmas event. Activities include carousel rides, live entertainment, Twelve Days of Christmas scavenger hunt, and Christmas movies at the theatre.
Other events take place during the national holidays like Victoria Day and Canada Day.
Visit the Burnaby Village Museum website for more information on open hours, events, and COVID-19 guidelines.
Check out -> Central Park - Burnaby
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Once you step into this open-air museum, you get to explore different places and learn many histories. Get welcomed by staff in ‘20s costume, listen to age-old stories, and ride in the century-old carousel. Visit the theatre to watch ‘20 movies or learn about BC’s oldest surviving steam locomotive, Old Curly.
Burnaby Village Museum operates seasonally, and admission is primarily free. Not only perfect for all ages, but the attractions here are also budget-friendly.
Brief History of the Museum
Burnaby Village Museum opened its doors in 1971, standing next to Heritage Homes and Deer Lake. The village has about 31 buildings—some carried from other sites and brought to the museum. Some buildings and artifacts are initially from the 1920s, while they remodeled others.
Key Places To Visit in the Museum1. C.W Parker Carousel
Feel younger by taking a ride on this vintage indoor carousel. This 1912 hand sculptured classic is the 119th carousel built by C.W Parker Company in Kansas. It went through many states in the USA before arriving in a Vancouver amusement park in 1936 and then in Playland, another amusement park.
Playland disclosed their intention to dismantle the exhibit and sell each horse in an auction in 1989. But a fundraiser started by Friends of the Vancouver Carousel Society saved it, each donor naming a horse after supporting the movement. Finally, in 1990, the ride came to Burnaby Village Museum.
When you get there, you’ll notice one horse in the carousel was unrestored. It is in a display box to show visitors the horses' former looks before their restoration.
Taking a ride on this popular exhibit boils down to a small fee.
2. Seaforth School
Learn the daily activities of the students of Seaforth School back in the 1920s, a school that opened in 1922 with 20 students. They moved the school building from the north side of Burnaby to the museum and renovated it, becoming a public exhibit in 1987.
The school has a British flag and wall pictures of King George V and Queen Mary since Canada was a British colony.
The average school day at the time begins with kids singing the "God Save The King" anthem and the "Lord's Prayer." The teacher examines their hygiene, after which students settle down for lessons, writing with pens dipped in an inkwell.
During breaks, students had meals like cheese, bread, and apples wrapped in pieces of cloth or put in tins and baskets. Hopscotch and marbles were popular games at that period.
You can engage your kids in the Seaforth School program, where basic school kids play-act the typical school day of the 1920s. Singing the anthem or reciting the Lord's prayer is not mandatory, though.
3. Interurban Tram #1223
Explore the Interurban Tram barn, a central transportation system for goods and persons during the early 20th century. B.C. Electric owned the Interurban Tram #1223, and it is one of the seven such exhibits left. They restored the antique in 2000, and it functions properly.
4. The Burnaby Post
The "Burnaby Post" is a village newspaper from the 1920s. Printing jobs were harder then because of the manual setting of paper types. Each publication took up to a week to set up and print. Visit the building to see the printing machine in action.
5. The Elworth Manor
This beautiful house and garage were one of the Heritage Houses before the City of Burnaby bought them in 1970. Elworth House (1922) was the home of Edwin and Mary Bateman. Bateman, a former Canadian Pacific Railway administrator, named the house after his hometown in England.
6. Old Curly Locomotive
This 19th-century locomotive is the oldest existing steam train; it was part of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
7. Church
A representation of a 1920s church for weddings and other events.
8. Way Sang Yuen Wat Kee
A Chinese herbalist shop with relics from an ancient store in Victoria.
9. War Memorial Fountain
Burnaby Civic Employees Union built this fountain in 1923. You’ll love to see it.
10. Bell's Dry Goods
Built around 1922, this dry-good store originally belonged to Flora and William Bell.
11. Jesse Love Farmhouse
Find out which crops were growing in the days of old when you visit Jesse and Martha Love's 1893 farmhouse.
12. Japanese Ofuro
A model Japanese bathhouse built in dedication to the first Japanese settler who arrived in BC in 1877.
13. Vorce Tram Station
A renovated 1911 station from the Burnaby Lake interurban line.
14. Other attractions include...
- Tom Irvine's House
- Wagner's Blacksmith Shop
- Burnaby Lake General Store
- McKay Barbershop
- The Home Bakery
Amenities
The museum has a gift shop, and the restrooms are at different locations on the site. There is an ice cream parlour and restaurant. You can rent the parlour and a multi-purpose space for special occasions.
You can rent the shops for weddings and other events, and it seats roughly 80 people. There is a parking lot, and the museum premises are wheelchair-accessible.
When to Visit the Burnaby Village Museum
This village museum opens seasonally from early May to September, 11 am to 4:30 pm. Summer is an excellent time to visit as the museum is open from Tuesday to Friday, including holiday Mondays.
You can also visit during Halloween in October or during Christmas for the delightful Heritage Christmas Celebration from late November to January 1st. But, it does not open on the 24th and 25th of December. Spring break and national holidays are another great time to come by.
Entry is always free during the Summer and Christmas, but the Halloween event is premium.
All in all, visitors in pre-booked programs can actually visit all year round.
Events
Burnaby Village has different exciting events you wouldn't want to miss. It is hosting an event called Eerie Illusions between October 22nd and 31st in 2021. It features a magical environment that includes special effects, high-quality projections, and more. There are many food vendors on site as well. The Eerie Illusions Haunted Village Halloween event is a fun time for the kids.
They decorate the museum with Halloween scenes, adornments, and special effects. It features Halloween characters in the streets and display windows, live entertainment, and free carousel rides.
Enjoy the Christmas season at the Museum Heritage Christmas event. Activities include carousel rides, live entertainment, Twelve Days of Christmas scavenger hunt, and Christmas movies at the theatre.
Other events take place during the national holidays like Victoria Day and Canada Day.
Visit the Burnaby Village Museum website for more information on open hours, events, and COVID-19 guidelines.
Check out -> Central Park - Burnaby
Homepage