Visit the Museum
424 Fernhill Road, Mayne Island, BC
Summer Hours: Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 10 AM - 1 PM, or by appointment
July 1st long weekend to Labour Day long-weekend. To open by request in off-season please contact mayneislandmuseum@gmail.com
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"In 1896 the Plumper Pass Lockup was built to cool off those whose tempers were not soothed by either the church or the saloon. The gaol is now a small museum. The Mayne Museum is a small building. It displays the rich history of Mayne Island."
Visit the Mayne Island Museum’s Two Online Collections:
Johnny Aitken Historic Photographs
About the Museum
The museum is operated by the Mayne Island Agricultural Society (1962) It is located in the Plumper Pass 1896 “Gaol” which now houses things from the people who lived, worked and played on our island. The adjacent Dalton Deacon Barn houses the larger pieces of farm machinery and appliances that have been donated to the Museum.
Mayne Islanders love sharing the stories that bring our island’s heritage to life: Tsartlip First Nation (W̱JOȽEȽP), Japanese and European settlers from the late 1800’s to the mid 1900’s.
The museum offers a look at life on our island through the ages:
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First Nations, the SEANEC people who came to fish in the Gulf islands every year. Helen Point remains a significant place for the Tsartlip and for Mayne Island.
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Early settlers from the 1850’s including Japanese settlers who lived on Mayne Island until they were forced to move to internment camps in 1942.
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Working farms which began in the 1890s.
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Two digital collections are also available,
the Mayne Island Museum Digital Collection,
and the John Aitken Historic Photo collection:
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W̱SÁNEĆ ‘Saltwater People’ Interpretation / Relationship-Building Project on Mayne Island
The Indigenous Partnership project is an initiative of the Mayne Island Agricultural Society (MIAS). The project focuses on building relationships between the Mayne Island and W̱SÁNEĆ communities. The tangible outcome of this project has been the permanent outdoor W̱SÁNEĆ exhibit that shines a light on a small part of the deep W̱SÁNEĆ history, language and culture that is a legacy for this island.
The exhibit was unveiled to a large crowd of W̱SÁNEĆ and non-indigenous islanders on September 28th, 2019. The celebration included songs, drumming, stories, food and much laughter and networking. The intangible outcome is stronger relationships between W̱SÁNEĆ people and island residents – which we are committed to continuing and building.
Mayne Island is located within the traditional territories of several Salish First Nations. “SENĆOŦEN speaking ‘saltwater’ people and Hul’quimi’num speaking ‘river people’ have lived on, visited or harvested from the lands and waters of Mayne Island for millennia.” Mayne has deep significance and an important history for the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations, particularly the Tsartlip who come here to educate their youth in ethnobotany and traditional cultural practices on their large reserve at Helen Point.
Guided by W̱SÁNEĆ elders, particularly J’SINTEN /STOLÈ»EȽ (Dr John Elliott) the project developed two large outdoor interpretive panels that recognize the deep history and relationship that the W̱SÁNEĆ have with the island. The more intangible goal has been to begin developing an ongoing conversation and relationship between Mayne Islanders and the W̱SÁNEĆ communities, particularly Tsartlip, on whose traditional territory Islanders live, work and play.
Generous funding for this Project has been provided by the Heritage Legacy Fund of British Columbia, BC Ferries, CRD Arts Commission and Campbell Bay Music Festival.
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