History comes alive at the Courtenay and District Museum and Palaeontology Centre, in Courtenay, BC on north-eastern Vancouver Island. During the year the Museum provides outdoor and indoor programs for all age groups covering First Nations history, history of the Comox Valley, amazing fossils, logging history and geology. The Museum is a member of the The Great Canadian Fossil Trail.
Courtenay Museum's Prehistoric Displays
Although Courtenay is a small town the artifacts and fossil sites have garnered international interest. The Museum has been featured on television documentaries on the Knowledge Network and the Discovery Channel.
Courtenay's surrounds were once teaming with undersea prehistoric life such as the elasmosaur, a fearsome looking marine reptile with a long neck and lot of teeth.
Courtenay Museum Photo Collections
A wonderful collection of photos to take you back in time.
• Business and Industry - boots hop, cafe and others
• Celebrations - fairs, weddings and picnics
• Comox and Comox Valley - harbour, ships, docks and streets
• Courtenay - main streets, houses and totem poles
• Farming - early farms and farming equipment
• Forbidden Plateau - black and white photos of this beautiful and rugged area
• Hotels & Inns - Port Augusta and Elk hotels
• Logging - early loggers and logging tools
• Public Buildings - schools and government buildings
• Recreation - women's grass hockey, fishing and baseball
Courtenay Museum Artifacts
A unique collection of artifacts to bring history to life.
• First Nations - some amazing masks on display
• Military Gallery - from badges to helmets and more
• Accessories Gallery - purses, shoes and jewelry
• Hats Gallery - men's hats, including a top hat, and women's hats
• Children's Clothing Gallery - no blue jeans or tank tops here
• Fan Gallery - exquisite fans
Capes Escape
Capes Escape is a 1930's home connected to the 7 acre Capes Park and just a few minutes from downtown Courtenay. The 1,700 sq ft home named after Katherine Capes, a Founder and Patron of the Museum, is available for rental.
Katherine Capes was an avid preservationist of both cultural and natural heritage as well as one of the first female Canadian archaeologists. She donated the Capes family home in 1997 to the Courtenay and District Historical Society.
Courtenay Accommodations
There are a number of hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts to pick from including our sponsors, Best Western:
The Best Western Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre in Courtenay, British Columbia is the only full-service hotel in the Comox Valley. Its Convention Centre offers meeting space and banquet facilities for 225. This full-service property features 142 well-appointed guest rooms; two on-site restaurants, the Greenhouse Restaurant and Snookers Lounge; free high-speed Internet and more.
Contact info: Best Western Westerly Hotel & Convention Centre, 1590 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, British Columbia, V9N 2K4. Toll Free: (800) 668-7797 (800) 668-7797 Telephone: (250) 338-7741 (250) 338-7741 Fax: (250) 338-5442 Email: info@bestwesternbarclay.com.
Enjoy all that Courtenay has to offer and please tell your friends.