Vancouver Museum

We have in our City, a heterogenous collection locally called “The Vancouver Museum” this by some is considered Vancouver’s greatest disgrace. The rooms, being totally unsuited for a museum, constitute a splendid illustration of convenience and utility being sacrificed to conform to the architecture, and yet the rank and file of the general public appear to be indifferent as to its condition, as if they had no voice in its improvement.

A good Museum is one of the best institutions for public instruction, it is an important factor in the education of both young and old, and a valuable advertising agent for every city. Thousands of adults visit the Museum each month, many of these are from other cities, and it is not fair to Vancouver that these visitors should form a poor opinion concerning the type of our citizens, but how can they do otherwise, after a visit to the Museum. There are thousands of valuable specimens stored there, but through lack of accommodation and funds it is next to impossible to have them properly classified and displayed; consequently they lose their educational value, and visitors have difficulty in distinguishing our native specimens from those of other countries because they are mixed up with each other.

Nothing, but ignorance as to what a museum should be, can account for the present apathy toward our local museum, and it is one of the aims of our Society to assist in dispelling that ignorance, so that we may soon be provided with a Museum worthy of our citizens.

As a Society we are particularly interested in the Natural history section of the Museum, there are many ways in which we can help to increase its usefulness, but there must be some assurance that any assistance or collections we give, will be properly cared for and exhibited for the instruction of visitors; under the present arrangement however, the lack of accommodation and public support, we are forced to satisfy ourselves with an old curiosity store, labeled “Vancouver Museum”.