Located at the northern tip of Vancouver Island on Kwakiutl territory, the Port Hardy Museum, Archives and Gift Shop offers visitors an opportunity to explore the region’s diverse history. From Indigenous communities to the industries and natural history, our Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories that shape Port Hardy and the surrounding area. 

 

The Port Hardy Heritage Society was incorporated in 1982. It began operating as a community museum, archives, and gift shop in the heart of the downtown area. In the early years, the organization was active in archeological digs, advocacy, community events, and accessioning and accepting artifacts to build the initial exhibits and collections. In the following years, the Museum continued to strive to represent and preserve the lives and histories of North Islanders. 

 

The organization is currently in a state of transition to update and expand the scope of our work. Our efforts are influenced by dialogue in the museum sector around the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action for museums, alongside respect for capacity and community. 

 

Our organization increasingly acts as a hub for arts, culture, and heritage for residents of Northern Vancouver Island and its visitors. We are striving to create an educational space that represents and encourages critical thinking about the diverse histories and stories of the North Island.