Sooke Region Museum, Sooke

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See scale models of fishing ships and other boats on display at the Sooke Regional Museum.

Learn about Sooke at the Sooke Region Museum (and Visitors Centre) which includes a wide range of exhibits both indoors and out. Outside, visitors can explore the Triangle Island Lighthouse, Moss Cottage, a blacksmith shop, a Polemaker's Shack and various machinery strewn throughout the grounds. Inside, the Museum offers exhibits focusing on the natural geology and history of the region through artifacts, historic photographs, dioramas, displays and scale models. Don't miss the Museum's annual events which includes the Open House and Salmon Barbecue (which occurs annually on the fourth Sunday in June), Moss Cottage Christmas, and the annual Snowman Building Day.

Explore the Province's oldest independent settlement - Sooke, British Columbia - and visit the Sooke Regional Museum to learn about the areas history, its people and its industry.

For decades the Sooke Regional Museum (which also operates as a visitors centre) has been sharing the history of the area with visitors from around the world. The Museum also houses the Sooke Archives which collects, catalogues and displays the history of the Sooke and Port Renfrew region through the various exhibits found throughout the museum and its grounds.

The Museum includes a wide range of exhibits, both indoors and out. Outdoors, visitors can see the lens and dome of the Triangle Island Lighthouse which once was a beacon along the West Coast Lifesaving Trail which protected ships from Vancouver Island's dangerous coastline. Built in 1910, it was only used for eight year and deconstructed in 1920 due to its height which at 700 feet above sea level meant its light was difficult to see in cloudy weather. The Museum also encompasses Moss Cottage, the oldest standing pioneer home west of Victoria, built in 1869 by James Welsh for his bride, Mary Ellen Flynn. Outside, visitors can also see an apple tree grafted from one of W.C. Grant's Lemon Pippin Apple trees planted in the region in 1849. There are also many historic artifacts and machines strewn around the grounds as well as a cross section of a one thousand year old Douglas Fir. Inside, various exhibits composed of artifacts, historic photographs, dioramas, displays and scale models focusing on the Sooke's natural geology, local First Nations groups, pioneers, clothing, industry and more.

Open year round, the Sooke Regional Museum and Visitors Centre provides a place for visitors to explore the regions history, its people and its unique geography. Take the opportunity to visit the museum (or experience one its popular annual events such as the Open House and Salmon Barbecue, Moss Cottage Christmas, and the annual Snowman Building Day) to learn about the Sooke region of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.