Britannia Heritage Shipyard, Steveston

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The colourful wooden stilt houses located on the eastern edge of the Britannia Heritage Shipyard offer a look into the region's past with furniture, photos, information and exhibits.

With a rich history spanning from 1889 to present, the Britannia Heritage Shipyard National Historic Site is the second of two found in the fishing village of Steveston, British Columbia. Built on the marshland alongside the Fraser River, the buildings in this park-like atmosphere offer a view into the lives of village residents as well as the importance of the boat building and repair industry. Visitors to the site can enjoy talking with volunteers, watching boat restoration in progress or enjoy exploring the museums, artifacts and buildings on display.

Located a ten minute walk from Steveston's bustling landing, the Britannia Heritage Shipyard is an interesting place to explore one of the Village's most important elements.

During the peak canning and fishing days, the fishing fleet was required to be in top shape. Originally operating as a cannery, the shipyard was built in 1889. Pressures on salmon stock forced a new role onto the site, operating as a shipyard from 1917 to its closure in 1980. Its role was vital to the region's fishing industry, with employees both building and repairing boats on site.

With several acquisitions, this National Heritage Site has become one of the regions largest outdoor museums dedicated to early life in Steveston Village. These include:

• Murakami House: Built in 1885 it became the residence of the Murakami family in 1929 until 1942. The building operated as a boat works and home for the family consisting of ten children and their parents. The site now serves as a visitors centre and museum.
• Stilt Houses / Chinese Bunk House / Japanese Duplex / First People's Bunkhouse: All used primarily as residences some of these buildings were on site originally and some acquired and moved in to protect their historical value. The last remaining of their kind, these interesting structures offered a home for cannery workers and fishermen and as well for their families.
• Stilt Structures over the Fraser River: Home to the Richmond Boat Builders, this was the last operating builder in the area, operating year round, the company built boats for Steveston as well as throughout British Columbia.

Visitors can explore the shipyard throughout the year as well as the dozens of buildings on site. Weekends see volunteers and members of the society working to restore old boats - some even products from the very dry docks they sit in today. Park employees are on hand to answer questions and show visitors the intricate workings of this piece of Steveston's fishing and canning past.