The Maritime Museum of B.C. is moving to a temporary location in downtown Victoria while it continues to look for a permanent home.
The museum was planning to establish a new location in Langford, but pulled out of those plans in March, citing an economic climate that no longer made it feasible, and said it would look for a location on the water near downtown Victoria.
The museum will move to an interim city-owned location beside the Victoria Conference Centre on Douglas Street in August.
“This is a game-changer for the Maritime Museum, enabling us to stay downtown on Lekwungen territory,” Jamie Webb, president of the Maritime Museum, said in a statement. “The enthusiastic support of Mayor Helps, Council and City staff equips the Museum with an ideal interim space while we continue to explore options for a permanent waterfront location.”
The museum has been leasing a temporary, 3,000-square-foot space in downtown Victoria at 634 Humboldt St. since it was forced to leave its home in Bastion Square in 2015.
The museum’s last day at the current location will be July 17. The current exhibit, The SS Valencia, a Theatre of Horror, will reopen in the new location following the move. More information about reopening is expected in coming weeks.
