Museum of Vancouver

The Museum of Vancouver (MOV) is the city's civic museum, housed in the same distinctive crab-shaped building as the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre in Vanier Park. While it's not specifically a children's museum, it does a surprisingly good job of making Vancouver's history accessible and interesting for families.

The permanent history galleries are the backbone of the museum, walking visitors through Vancouver's transformation from the early 1900s through the 1970s. Each era is brought to life with immersive room recreations, artifacts, photographs, and audio recordings. Kids are fascinated by the vintage toys, household gadgets, and technology from previous decades — seeing a rotary phone or a black-and-white TV for the first time is genuinely surprising for digital-native children.

The neon sign gallery is the museum's most photogenic feature — a collection of restored vintage neon signs from Vancouver businesses past, glowing in a darkened room. It's atmospheric and eye-catching, and kids respond to the bold colors and designs.

Rotating exhibitions change every few months and often tackle contemporary themes with relevance to young people. Past shows have explored sustainability, Indigenous cultures, immigration stories, and the city's relationship with its natural environment.

MOV is compact — most visits last 1-2 hours, making it manageable for families without the exhaustion of a mega-museum. The building shares space with the Space Centre, so you can easily combine both for a half-day visit. Vanier Park outside offers beautiful green space with views of English Bay and the North Shore mountains, plus a playground for burning off post-museum energy.

The museum is fully accessible with elevators, wide doorways, and family washrooms. The small cafe on the lower level serves basic refreshments. The gift shop has genuinely interesting Vancouver-themed items.

Admission is about $23 for adults and $18 for youth (13-18), with free entry for kids 5 and under and Indigenous visitors. The first Sunday of each month is pay-what-you-can, making it essentially free for families.

For families interested in understanding what makes Vancouver the city it is, MOV provides context and stories that enhance your whole trip — especially when combined with the neighbourhoods, parks, and landmarks you'll visit during your stay.