With more than twenty museums and galleries to choose from throughout the region, you’ll discover a wide range of creations that reflect the magic of the Kootenays.
East Shore of Kootenay Lake
Head over on the ferry to the East Shore and visit the famous Artisans of Crawford Bay. All within walking distance, this tiny community holds a selection of world class artisans, with an emphasis on pottery, woven brooms, a forge and more. At Barefoot Handweaving Studio/Gallery, you’ll will find beautiful hand loomed items and the world’s largest gallery of Ted Wallace Art. While at Forge and Furnace Gallery, you’ll find a working forge alongside other artisan studios.
KASLO
Once you reach the quaint town of Kaslo, immerse yourself in their rich history of mining and forestry by visiting the Kootenay Star Mining Museum. You’ll find the danger and hardships endured by the pioneer families represented through the array of artifacts on display.
The 120 year old Langham building, a Provincial Heritage Site, and home of the Langham Cultural Centre is worth visiting alone for the distinctive architecture. But inside you’ll find 3 galleries alive with images that tell stories of the past, as well as a lively events calendar. The Main Gallery and Community Gallery features theatre, visual arts, and music, while the second floor of the building is home to the Japanese Canadian Museum.
LARDEAU VALLEY
Step back in time and visit the incredibly well preserved Lardeau Valley Historical Centre to discover more local historic artifacts that will take you back in time. Find perfectly preserved hand farming equipment, turn of the century home goods, First Nations artifacts, and historical photos of the area and its people and more in the historic Gerrard Hatchery Residence Building.
ROSSLAND
Do you want to learn about how the City of Rossland was founded? Then the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre is a must-see destination. You can learn all about Rossland’s mining, geology, skiing, and social history.
NELSON
The iconic Nelson Museum & Art Gallery is a must visit destination for culture goers. Multiple gallery spaces complement a robust museum and Cold War era bunker, while the gift shop features all kinds of creations from the region and beyond. This museum also has a permanent museum showcasing the culture of the Sinixt and Ktunaxa, and the evolution of the City of Nelson and area through European discovery. The museum aims to be a cultural hub for integrative art whilst providing programs to foster new viewpoints and to encourage collaboration within the community. They also offer a guided tour to their unique experience in the cold war bunker on Saturdays.
Fundamental to the regional cultural landscape since 2002, Oxygen Art Centre is a rural artist-run centre that nurtures contemporary professional practices while engaging the wider community through multi-disciplinary programming. Through education, residencies, exhibitions and events Oxygen advances rural cultural development and achieves experimental, accessible and inclusive programming.
A couple of blocks over is the Craft Connection, a longstanding boutique that profiles local artisans. Fresh on the art scene is Levity Micro Gallery, showing a collection of art that speaks to our frenetic dystopian culture in a whimsical, lighthearted manner.
CASTLEGAR
The Doukhobor Discovery Centre hosts ten historical buildings that are dispersed across ten acres of land. Here visitors can feast their eyes on indoor and outdoor displays and become absorbed in educational exhibits.
Also in Castlegar, the CPR Station Museum is located inside a 100+ year old station, making it one of the best preserved in the province. You will easily be transported to the early 1900’s where you can’t help but visualize the commotion of the passengers boarding the trains.
The Kootenay Gallery of Art displays contemporary art exhibitions for much of the year. Located next to the Doukhobor Discovery Centre (across from the airport), it also features a small but well stocked gift shop.
TRAIL
Trail Museum & Archives brings to life the local history and heritage of Trail and is free to visit. This museum boasts three galleries along with an extensive archival holding. If you’re looking to take home a souvenir, this museum even has a well-stocked gift shop.
AINSWORTH HOT SPRINGS
As you travel north along Kootenay Lake from Nelson, stop in at the JB Fletcher Store Museum. Located in Ainsworth Hot Springs, it is one of only a handful of commercial buildings in BC, from this era, with original interior elements from 1896. Restored in 2017 through Heritage BC’s Built Heritage Grants, take a step back in time to what grocery shopping used to entail while browsing a range of goods made by local artisans.
ARROW SLOCAN
A drive through the Slocan Valley and along Arrow Lakes features a number of worthwhile cultural stops. Built over a century ago, the Silverton Gallery features art exhibits and open stage performances, while the Fingland Cabin and Interpretive Centre (on site) provides a window into the silver rush.
Just a few minutes north in New Denver is the Hidden Garden Gallery, profiling artists in various mediums including painting, drawing, sculpting, photography and quilting. Nakusp is home to the Studio Connexion, a Fine Arts Gallery. It hosts multiple exhibitions each year. along with special events including workshops.
The Sandon Historical Society Museum aims to preserve and share the history of Sandon. Here you can learn about the fascinating history of this ghost town that was once booming until the silver ran out and a flash flood destroyed many of its buildings. After Sandon, continue north until you reach the Nakusp and District Museum. This museum houses many artifacts, photos, and stories that bring to life the rich history of Nakusp and its surrounding areas.