From The Fairmont Empress Best Nearby History Museums (Attractions & Activities) (10 Overall Closest) Metro: Victoria, BC Royal British Columbia Museum (Attractions & Activities - History Museums) 675 Belleville St, Victoria  BC  V8W 9W2 • 250-356-7226 • 888-447-7977 Distance: ~222 m User Rating: 7.6666 / 10         Description: DOWNTOWN. This is one of Victoria's premier attractions, and Canada's most visited museum, dedicated to teaching about the land and people of coastal British Columbia. The Natural History gallery presents BC's coastal and rainforest ecosystems from the ice age to the present, the Modern History gallery features a real frontier town and the excellent First People's gallery houses native art and artifacts including an authentic longhouse. The IMAX theatre shows National Geographic films. Royal London Wax Museum (Attractions & Activities - History Museums) 470 Belleville St, Victoria  BC  V8V 1W9 • 250-388-4461 • 877-929-3228 Distance: ~317 m         Description: JAMES BAY. The handcrafted wax figures on display were created at Madame Tussaud's in London and shipped to Victoria. From royalty to rogues, some 300 life-size wax figures from England are displayed throughout two floors of exhibits. The most recent arrival to "Royalty Row" is the Golden Jubilee figure of Queen Elizabeth II. Visitors experience a variety of themed areas such as the Chamber of Horrors, Garden of Literature, Galaxy of Stars, and Crown Jewels Theatre, culminating with Frozen in Time, a story from Canada's frozen north. Queen Victoria, after whom the capital city of British Columbia is named, continues to "reign" in Victoria's world of wax.  Maritime Museum of British Columbia (Attractions & Activities - History Museums) 28 Bastion Sq, Victoria  BC  V8W 1H9 • 250-385-4222 Distance: ~0.505 km         Description: DOWNTOWN. Explore British Columbia's rich maritime history in this museum's extensive collection. There are 70 model ships, uniforms, weapons and artifacts that highlight the early fur trade, whaling industry, royal navy and ocean liner era. Other exhibits include a history of the BC ferry system, and an exhibit dedicated to the circumnavigation of the globe. Currently on display is the "Tilikum," the first dug-out canoe to make the attempt. Captained by John Voss, she set sail from Victoria in 1901 and arrived in England in 1904, having tackled three of the world's angriest oceans. Be sure to take a ride on the museum's ornate, gilded lift that dates from 1889 – it is the oldest operating birdcage elevator in North America. Victoria Police Museum (Attractions & Activities - History Museums) 850 Caledonia Ave, Victoria  BC  V8T 5J8 • 250-995-7654 Distance: ~1.244 km         Description: DOWNTOWN. This museum relates the history of the oldest police force west of the Great Lakes. In fact, the police force predates the incorporation of the city of Victoria. See artifacts and learn about their fascinating 145+ year history. Craigflower Manor and Schoolhouse (Attractions & Activities - History Museums) 110 Island Hwy Craigflower Rd and Admirals Rd, Victoria  BC  V9B 1M5 • 250-383-4627 Distance: ~5.453 km         Description: VIEW ROYAL. This early farming community was organized by a subsidiary of the Hudson's Bay Company to transform the area into a permanent settlement and to reduce the need for imports from abroad. Established in 1853 along the Victoria Gorge Waterway on the lands of the Kosapsom Nation, ancient artifacts have been found dating back 2500 years. The Georgian manor house was built in 1856 and is decorated to teach about the life of its residents circa 1860. The adjacent school is the oldest standing school building in western Canada. Youngsters enjoy the reenactments of the educational process during the Victorian age. Heritage Acres (Attractions & Activities - History Museums) 7321 Lochside Dr (Saanich Historical Artifacts Society), Saanichton  BC  V8M 1W4 • 250-652-5522 Distance: ~13.129 km         Description: ELK LAKE / CORDOVA BAY. A 29-acre site devoted to the display of the Saanich Historical Artifacts Society's massive collection, Heritage Acres also includes numerous trails and picnic spots. Original and replica buildings (including a school house, log cabin, blacksmith, mercantile, chapel, boat house and sawmill) depict BC life circa 1900. Artifacts range from small household items to farm machinery; some are housed in the museum building, others are scattered around the property. Sharing the land is the Vancouver Island Model Engineers Club which occasionally offers rides on their scale model trains (call ahead to get the current schedule). British Columbia Aviation Museum (Attractions & Activities - History Museums) 1910 Norseman Rd Victoria International Airport, Sidney  BC  V8L 5V5 • 250-655-3300 Distance: ~24.965 km User Rating: 10 / 10         Description: AIRPORT. This unique museum is dedicated to Canada's history in aviation. In addition to pictures and memorabilia, you can view over 20 restored vintage aircraft, including WWII fighters, a 1929 Eastman Flying Boat, and a Gibson Twin that was built in Victoria in 1911. Thursdays are "work days" so visit then to watch the restorers in action. Group tours available. Copyright ©2001 10Best Inc. All rights reserved.