Keeping a Rich History Alive
The Pemberton Museum collects, preserves, and displays artifacts related to the human history of Pemberton and the surrounding district.
The displays feature:
The self-sufficiency of the Lillooet [Stl’atl’imx] people * before contact with people making their way to the gold fields, the coming of people attracted by gold on the Fraser and some of the physical changes they created in the district, and the lives of the settlers and later residents.
Life moved slowly in the area, as the only connection to the outside world was by pack train. The railroad did not arrive until 1914, electrical power was not available until 1951, and the highway was not opened until 1967.
The Pemberton Pioneer Women, a committee of the Women’s Institute, started collecting examples of life in the area and made the first moves to find a museum which would house the collections and tell the story of the early days.
Pemberton Women’s Intitute
A piece of land was made available in the Village of Pemberton, and the first museum opened in 1982. As the museum grew and more artifacts were contributed, a larger site was obtained from the Village of Pemberton (BC Rail lands). This is the current location.
The official move to the new site started in 1992, and buildings to house the growing displays continue to be built. Volunteers and a curator run the museum, which is open from June to September.
The Collecting District is defined geographically as the areas drained by waters entering the north end of Harrison Lake and the areas drained by waters entering Anderson Lake.
Our Collecting Policy
I. Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the museum at Pemberton is to collect, preserve, and display artifacts that illustrate themes connected with the human history of Pemberton and the district. These artifacts should have a long-lasting association with the district. (Until the society has expanded and appropriate facilities for artifact storage, the museum society reserves the right to accept only those materials that can be stored and conserved (adequately).
Subject to revision, three themes will be illustrated, emphasizing the third (C ). They will be:
A) The complete self-sufficiency of the Lillooet [Stl’atl’imx] people before contact with people making their way to the gold fields of the Fraser and beyond.
B) The coming of people attracted by gold on the Fraser and some of the physical changes they created in the district, principally in the period 1858-1863.
C) Lives of Settlers and later residents
2. After the railway – up to the present
Theme “C” has sub-themes in both 1 and 2;
ii) homes
iii) making a living
iv) services and institutions established
v) flooding and how it was combated
II. Collection Policy
The items collected must conform to the museum’s foregoing statement of purpose. Still, when an artifact once common to the district is needed for display and unavailable locally, we may go outside our area to find it.
We will add to the collection through gifts or any transaction by which title passes to the museum. We will accept loans for only a specific exhibit and then for only a specified time. Insurance on loaned items will be the responsibility of the owners.
When the museum’s limited storage space is filled, we will look elsewhere for acceptable alternative storage for donated items. Until the society has expanded and has appropriate facilities for artifact storage, the museum society reserves the right to accept only those materials which can be stored and conserved (adequately).
We will review this policy at regular intervals.
Archival Holdings
Total Volume: TBD – approx: 25 meters
Inclusive Dates: 1846 to present
Predominant Dates: 1914 – 1958
The holdings consist of public and private records generated by residents and organizations of Pemberton and District. They include personal records of families and individuals in the community and records of organizations and businesses that reflect Pemberton and District’s social, political, and economic life. The collecting district is defined as those areas drained by waters entering the north end of Harrison Lake and those drained by waters entering Anderson Lake.
References are made to surrounding areas such as Pemberton (Agerton, Port Pemberton), Port Douglas, 29-Mile, Poole Creek, Mt. Currie (Creekside), Birken, D’arcy, Whistler (Alta Lake), and Lillooet (Cayoosh). Holdings include photographs; manuscript collection (letters, memoirs, minutes, manuals, project studies and proposals); oral histories; VHS videos; posters; postcards; information files (contain copies of brochures, articles, essays, clippings, and ephemera); pamphlets; local newspapers and maps.
The Pemberton Museum supports research and archival reproductions year-round. Simply contact us to set up an appointment. Please see our research and reproduction terms and fees, and if you have any questions, please speak to the Curator, Charmaine Carpenter.
Pemberton Museum Master Plan to 2026
The Museum Society has prepared an updated master plan using feedback from members and partners.
If you would like more information about the museum master plan or to provide feedback, don’t hesitate to contact us!