Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre

Established in 1955, the Rossland Museum and Archives Association is a not-for-profit society whose mission is to preserve and dynamically present the heritage of Rossland and area. Our vision is that the Rossland Historical Museum and Archives will be the visitor gateway to the Kootenays and the Columbia Basin and will inspire and engage the public through virtual and real life displays that bring our history to life.

We will do this by:

Creating a venue that embodies the mines of yesteryear and beckons visitors. Bringing the past to life through an authentic historic gold mine tour that educates and engages our visitors by enabling them to experience hard rock mining from the early days of exploration to the hard work of prospecting and the thrill of the gold strike. Highlighting the industrial advances that supplied power to the area at a time when electricity was in its infancy, leading to the development of the world’s largest smelter. Enhancing and renewing our present exhibits which portray the social history of our community.

The Rossland Historical Museum & Archives Association was established by the Rossland Rotary Club in the basement of the Rossland Court House in 1954 and was incorporated under the BC Societies Act in March of 1955. The present museum was built on the site of the Black Bear mine in 1967 as a Canadian Centennial project thanks to Jack McDonald, Roger Terhune, and many other dedicated community members. The underground mine tour of the Black Bear Mine ran from 1967 to 2010, but is now permanently closed – we are currently exploring other options to replace the mine tour.

The Association is governed by a Board of Directors who are: Libby Martin – President Maureen Brown – Vice President Jim De Long – Treasurer Lydia Jakovic – Director Tim Ridge – Director Roly Worsfold – Director Bill Coedy – Director Carol Cooper – Director

The museum building houses thousands of artifacts in the storage rooms. The archives stores and preserves historic photos, documents, the Rossland Miner newspapers from 1896 to 1972, maps and the City’s early assessment and tax rolls, as well as other important mining and community historical information.

The museum gift shop is very popular with our visitors, especially children who want to add to their rock collections. There are snacks, coffee and tea available. The museum grounds are enjoyed by families wanting to picnic and to walk around to view the outdoor exhibits. The museum is also the sponsoring organization for the Destination BC Visitor Centre and has tourist information, maps and guides pertaining to BC, the Kootenay Rockies, and other tourist regions as well as our local region.