Summer at Vancouver Maritime Museum

This Summer, Go Deeper Into Maritime History
Included with museum admission. Available daily.

There’s more to explore at the Vancouver Maritime Museum! This summer, step into the heart of the legendary St. Roch with guided below-deck tours and enjoy daily Pop-Up Stations that bring our shared maritime past to life.

  • Peek inside parts of the St. Roch not usually open to the public
  • Learn and engage in our fun daily Pop-Up Station.
  • Perfect for families, history buffs, and curious minds of all ages

Featured Daily
Pop-Up Stations

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Knot Tying Demonstration

Discover the ropes—literally!
Drop by for a hands-on knot-tying demo and learn how sailors used knots for everything from hoisting sails to securing cargo. Test your skills and take home a new trick or two—can you master the bowline?

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Signal Flags

Before phones, there were flags.
Explore the colourful language of maritime signal flags! Learn how ships sent messages across great distances using simple symbols—and try spelling your own name in flags.

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Guest Pop-Ups

Meet the experts shaping our oceans and coasts today.
Throughout the summer, special guests from organizations like Parks Canada, the Port of Vancouver, and Ocean Wise will be popping up at the Vancouver Maritime Museum.

Empress Steamships

Step into the golden age of ocean travel.
Join our pop-up presentation on the famous Empress steamships—elegant liners that connected Canada to Asia and shaped the Pacific trade route. Hear stories of travel, glamour, and global connection on the high seas.

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Ben Franklin Submersible

Go deep with one of the strangest vessels ever built.
Learn the fascinating story of the Ben Franklin, a research submersible that drifted beneath the Atlantic for 30 days in the 1960s. Discover how it helped shape ocean science—and what it’s doing in Vancouver!

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Whaling Traditions

Explore the deep cultural significance of whaling.
Learn how the Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth Peoples have practiced whaling for generations—with ceremony, courage, and deep respect for the ocean.

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Maritime Crafts Table

Drop anchor at the crafts table!
Families and young visitors can get creative with hands-on maritime-themed crafts. Make your own mini sailboat, decorate a signal flag, or create ocean-inspired art to take home.

Go deeper into the story of Canada’s most legendary Arctic ship.

St. Roch: Below Deck Guided Experience

Step below deck aboard the historic St. Roch for a 15–20 minute guided tour that brings you closer to the daily life of the crew who sailed through the Northwest Passage. Led by museum interpreters, this experience offers exclusive access to areas not usually open to the public. Ask questions, explore hidden corners, and connect more deeply with the ship’s remarkable history. Please Note: This is not an engine room tour. Recommended for ages 8 and up. The space is tight—participants will need to duck and move through confined areas. Not suitable for those with claustrophobia or limited mobility. Included with admission. Sign up on arrival—spaces are limited daily!

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