Samson V Maritime Museum, New Westminster

The Samson V Maritime Museum is located along the boardwalk in New Westminster, British Columbia in an old paddle wheeler which was decommissioned in October of 1980 after serving the City since 1937. Now the Maritime Museum serves as a place to see photos, artifacts ans exhibits on the regions boating history. CREDIT: Venture Vancouver, SOURCE: www.venturevancouver.com

The Samson V Maritime Museum is located in an old paddle wheeler on the edge of the New Westminster boardwalk.

STATS

HOURS

Type:

Museum

Season:

All Seasons

Weather:

All Weather

Time:

1 hour

Cost:

By Donation

What to bring:

Camera, Questions, Sense of Curiosity

Moored along the wooden boardwalk which runs alongside the Fraser River sits a heritage Paddle-wheeler which served the City for forty-three years. Today, the Samson V is a Maritime Museum which introduces visitors to the history of the region and the importance of these boats which once numbered over a hundred. Inside, visitors can see the restored rooms, galley, engine room and wheelhouse as well as talk to knowledgeable volunteers and enjoy exhibits and old artifacts and photos from the ship's interesting history.

Located near the boardwalk which stretches along the shores of the Fraser River in New Westminster is the Samson V, a large paddle boat which has been decommissioned and now serves as the City's Maritime Museum.

Built in 1937, Samson V is a wooden, steam powered sternwheel snagpuller which worked the river until it was decommissioned in 1980. It was the fifth boat to be given the name Samson - its predecessors travelled the Fraser River for over a century before it. The ship's first official duty was to attend the opening of the newly built Patullo Bridge and afterwards, its primary function was removing snags and deadheads from the river to provide safe passage through the Fraser - from the mouth of the river in Richmond to Mission. In 1980 the Samson V was sold to the City of New Westminster to alter it for river tours but the damage to the boat's historical significance would have been devastating, so the ship was instead permanently moored and restored to become a Maritime Museum.

Today, visitors can climb aboard this heritage boat - the last surviving paddlewheeler of the over one hundred which once ran the Fraser River. There are three decks to explore with the engine room at the bottom, living quarters and kitchen on the second and a wheelhouse on the third. The Samson V continues to be restored by volunteers and with the aid of generous donations. On board, visitors can explore the Museum, the vessel's history, its many educational programs, and learn about the vessel's restoration and maintenance process.

Make sure to come and explore the Samson V Maritime Museum located in a beautiful heritage paddlewheeler to appreciate its importance to the fledgling Province of British Columbia, learn about it or just to enjoy a beautiful day on the deck of an authentic steam powered paddle boat which once made its way up and down the Fraser River.