The Kamloops Museum and Archives began in March 1936 as the Thompson Valley District Museum and Historical Association, with a mission to preserve and share the rich heritage of the region. It first opened to the public on July 1, 1937, in a log cabin originally built by the Hudson’s Bay Company and reconstructed in Riverside Park.

From the beginning, the museum housed a wide-ranging collection that included photographs, bird and animal specimens, Indigenous belongings, fur trade artifacts, gold rush memorabilia, and pioneer items. Each piece reflected the diverse stories of the people and places that shaped the Thompson Valley.

In 1957, the museum moved into its current home at Seymour Street and Second Avenue, a purpose-built facility funded by the City of Kamloops. Spanning three floors, the building signalled a new chapter of growth, professionalism, and community engagement.

In 2007, the museum formally came under the administration of the City of Kamloops after the Kamloops Museum Association was dissolved. Since then, the museum has continued to expand its archival holdings — including papers, maps, journals, photographs, and film — documenting the region’s history from the fur trade era of 1812 to the present day.

The Kamloops Museum and Archives also serves a broader purpose by collecting materials from neighbouring towns without their own archival institutions, helping ensure that local history is preserved as fully and fairly as possible.

More than just a repository, the museum is now a lively centre for heritage, offering exhibitions, school and public programs, and community events that bring the past into conversation with the present.

More information about this site will be added as research continues. If you have questions, comments, or stories to share, feel free to contact the Kamloops Museum and Archives at [email protected] or call 250-828-3576. Our team will make sure your message gets to the right place.