What began in 1958 in lobby of a sportfishing lodge has evolved into the Museum at Campbell River, a cultural institution dedicated to preserving the record of human activity on the northern reaches of Vancouver Island. Exhibits here trace the intertwining ties that made the region what it is today, from the vast histories of the area's First Nations peoples to the later emergence of the island as a center for the fishing and logging industries. Read on to learn more:

• Size: In addition to a 21,000-square-foot exhibition and research space, the museum also occupies seven acres of woodland, which houses a native plant garden and outdoor exhibits in views of the historic banks of the Discovery Passage. The collection is on Vancouver Island as well as the adjacent coast and islands covering a 400 km long stretch of coastline.
• Eye Catcher: the floathouse, a faithful full-sized recreation of one of the buoyant ocean dwellings that filled British Columbia's rugged waters during the early years of the 20th century.
• Permanent Mainstay: the First Nations Gallery, where a multi-media presentation, woven crafts, ceremonial masks, and other artifacts tell the story of local First Nations including the Kwakwaka’wakw, Coast Salish, and Nuu cha nulth nations.
• Don't Miss: Keep an eye out for the historic footage of the legendary Ripple Rock explosion, as well as two other films, one of which is an animated First Nations story that was produced by the Museum.