• Victoria:  Caleb Pike Homestead, 1589 Millstone Road.  Restored 1878 homestead. Open any time. 478-0156

• Shawnigan Lake Historical Society, 1775 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Road.  Local history museum.  Jul-Aug: 1-4; Sep-Jun: Sun 1-4. 743-2548

• Cowichan Bay Maritime Centre, 1761 Cowichan Bay Road. Boat building, maritime ecology.  Apr-Oct: 9-5 746-4955

• Lake Cowichan:  Kaatza Station Museum, 125 South Shore Road. A good local history museum, in a 1913 railway station.  A bit out of your way, but worth it if you love scenery and small museums.Summer: 9-4; Winter: Tue-Sun 1-4. 749-6142.

• Duncan
• Native Heritage Centre, 200 Cowichan Way. Arts and culture of the native people of the Northwest Coast.  Carving shed, theater, restaurant. May-Oct: 9:30-5:30; Nov-Apr: 10:00-4:00. 746-8119.
• Cowichan Valley Museum, Canada Ave & Station St. A charming local history museum in a 1912 railway station. Summer: Mon-Sat 11-4; Winter: Thu&Fri 11-4, Sat 11-2. 746-6612.
• BC Forest Museum Park, one mile N of Duncan on Hwy 1.  100 acre site features history of BC logging. Steam train ride. May-Sep: 9:30-6:00. 746-1251.

• Crofton: Old Crofton School, foot of Joan St., by ferry terminal. Local history museum. Summer: 9-4.

• Chemainus Mechanical Music Museum, 2853 Oak St. Antique music machines from 1881-1930. Demonstrations. May-Oct: 10-5. 246-4018.

• Ladysmith: Black Nugget Museum, 12 Gatacre St. One time workman's hotel: restaurant, historic exhibits. May-Sep: 10-5. 245-4846.

• Nanaimo
• Petroglyph Park, one km. S of Nanaimo on Hwy 1. Ancient native rock carvings, a short walk from highway. Any time.
• Nanaimo District Museum, 100 Cameron Road. Community museum with Main Street, coal mine, Coast Salish exhibits. Summer: Mon-Fri 9-6; Sat&Sun 10-6; Winter: Tue-Sat 9-5. 753-1821.
• Hudsons's Bay Bastion, 76 Front St. Built in 1853. Museum opened in 1906. Jul-Aug. 754-8474.
• Centennial Museum of the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, 1200 Dufferin Cres. Artifacts and records related to health care. Sep-Jun: Wed 1:30-3:30. 753-3837.
• Newcastle Island, by boat from behind the Civic Arena. 306 hectare Provincial Marine Park. Interpreted walking tours in summer.
• Vancouver Island Military Museum, Rutherford Mall. Local heroes, Victoria Cross room, military books. Mon-Sat: 9:30-4:00. 756-2554.

Last update: March 26, 2007.