MONOVA: The Museum of North Vancouver

MONOVA: the Museum of North Vancouver, is near Lonsdale Quay. It showcases the history of the Shipyards District and municipalities of North Vancouver.

In addition to the interesting exhibits in its building, MONOVA also hosts fabulous guided walking tours around the Shipyards District in the summer. The tours are called Shipyard Pals and they run from June until October.

This article contains the following information about the museum:

MONOVA: The Museum of North Vancouver

MONOVA is the Museum of North Vancouver. Stories told there include those about life during the World Wars, how the Shipyards worked, the early lumber industry and local Indigenous peoples.

The place showcases permanent collections of North Vancouver artifacts including an original streetcar (or tram) from 1908. It also features exhibits that change from time to time.

Inside the Museum of North Vancouver

Special Events

The Museum of North Vancouver hosts lots of special events throughout the year. Below are examples of what you might want to attend. (See the MONOVA website for the most up-to-date information about upcoming events.)

Sensory-Friendly Sunday – on the second Sunday of the month the museum’s light and sound equipment is adjusted to offer neurodivergent visitors an extra calming and relaxing atmosphere to enjoy the exhibits.
Lower Lonsdale Walking Tours – one-hour guided tours take participants around the Lower Lonsdale District near the museum. The tours run on Thursdays from the middle of August until October 10th. (Admission is by donation.)
Archives Drop-In Day – offered Tuesdays from 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm, this free drop-in event lets you peek into the museum’s archival collections to learn about the history of North Vancouver.

Where is the Museum?

The museum’s address is 115 West Esplanade in the Lower Lonsdale neighbourhood of North Vancouver. It’s just a short walk from the SeaBus terminal, Lonsdale Quay and the Shipyards District (which is where lots of special events happen including the Shipyards Night Market).

MONOVA is in a modern 16,000 square-foot facility that was built and designed specifically for the museum. At a cost of $8.5 million, it’s a great venue and a fabulous addition to North Vancouver’s Shipyards area.

MONOVA in North Vancouver

Hours and Admission

As of early 2026, MONOVA operates Wednesdays to Sundays from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The museum stays open until 8:00 pm on Thursdays. Winter hours run from October until March. During the winter season, the museum is closed on Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Christmas Eve and Christmas day, and New Year’s Eve as well as New Year’s day. It is, however, open on Boxing Day (December 26th). Between April and September the hours and dates of operation are slightly different.

As of early 2026, single ticket prices are as follows:

Adults (ages 18 to 64) – $14
Seniors (ages 65+) – $12
Youth (ages 6 to 17) and Students – $10
Little kids (ages 5 and under) – Free
Families (two adults or seniors and three children) – $38
Indigenous people – Free

Museum passes are also available and include unlimited admission for one year and access to exclusive events. Members can bring guests at discounted rates and enjoy 10% off at the store. They can also get a 20% discount on admission to the Bill Reid Gallery in downtown Vancouver. As of January, 2026, annual passes cost the following:

Adults (ages 18 to 64) – $33.33
Seniors (ages 65+) – $28.57
Youth (ages 6 to 17) and Students (valid student ID is required) – $23.81
Families (two adults or seniors and three children) – $71.43

(Note: The prices above are subject to change.)

What to Expect

The museum is a place for multimedia exhibits, innovative programs and events. It showcases North Vancouver’s history as well as stories about the region’s present and future.

At the museum expect to find interactive displays. It’s not a place where you just look at things. It also offers tactile and interactive ways to experience the region’s history, neighbourhoods, culture and people.

Inside the museum, near the entrance, there is the restored Streetcar 153 which used to run up and down Lonsdale Avenue (much like how streetcars still operate on the hilly roads of San Francisco today). Also near the entrance to the museum is the gift shop.

Other than the streetcar, most of the museum’s exhibits are in one of two rooms. There is a large gallery where you’ll find MONOVA’s permanent displays. There is also a smaller gallery with temporary exhibits that change over time.

Newtsuit at MONOVA

Feature Exhibit Gallery

The Feature Exhibit Gallery is where you’ll find the museum’s temporary exhibits which change from time to time.

Up until March 1st, 2026, the temporary exhibit in the gallery is Are We There Yet? The Sustainable Transportation Journey. This exhibit invites visitors to discover how urban transportation in North Vancouver has changed over time and to reflect on how we move through our city today.

You’re encouraged to imagine a future where getting around is not only convenient and inclusive, but also central to addressing environmental sustainability. By embracing innovation, working together, and making thoughtful choices, the exhibition aims to show how we can help shape a more sustainable way forward.

The exhibition also showcases archival documents and historic photographs related to transportation, along with transit artifacts on loan from TransLink and the Transit Museum Society. A hands-on interactive for children is also featured, allowing them to design future transportation routes using wooden transit pieces layered over a current-day map.

MONOVA’s Permanent Collection

The main gallery at the museum is a good size. It’s not huge, but it’s not small either. It’s a similar size to the Museum of Surrey, but smaller than the Museum of Vancouver and Vancouver Maritime Museum.

The space at MONOVA is nicely designed and features a mix of artifacts, pictures, photos, stories, video displays and written information.

In the main gallery you’ll learn about the local Indigenous communities (on whose unceded ancestral lands the museum and all of North Vancouver now stand). You’ll also learn about North Vancouver’s rich maritime and shipbuilding history, its movie industry, its economy, its sports heroes, and all kinds of interesting information about the region.

Streetcar 153

MONOVA’s largest and, arguably, it’s most valuable and interesting exhibit is Streetcar 153. It has been lovingly restored to its original look. Visitors can climb on board and imagine themselves back in time.

Interestingly, years ago North Vancouver had streetcars running all over the place. They went up Grand Boulevard, to the End of the Line Store (near the entrance to Lynn Headwaters), past the Capilano Suspension Bridge and through multiple other parts of the North Shore. Streetcar 153 operated between 1912 and 1946.

Monova's Streetcar #153 — Streetcar #153

Shipyard Pals and Other Walking Tours

Shipyard Sal and Shipyard Sam are a pair of theatrical tour guides in period costume who take visitors on tours around the Shipyards District. The tours happen in the summer and fall months between early June and late October. They are free of charge and highly recommended! The tours are fun, educational and entertaining.

Tours with the Shipyard Pals happen twice a day on Wednesdays and Sundays. The first tour each day is at 11:00 am and the second one is at 1:00 pm. (Note: Although free to join, donations are greatly appreciated.)

In addition to Shipyard Pals, the museum also offers Lower Lonsdale Walking Tours which explore other parts of the Lower Lonsdale District near the museum. These other tours are on Thursdays between mid-August and just before the Thanksgiving long weekend in October. The cost for these is “pay-what-you-can.”

See our article about Shipyard Pals or visit the Museum of North Vancouver’s Events Page to learn more about these tours.

Museum Accessibility and Parking

Being in a new and modern building, the museum is wheelchair accessible. Located close to Lonsdale Quay, it’s also convenient to get to. The SeaBus and main bus terminal are just a five-minute walk away.

If you drive to the museum you’ll find free parking on the surrounding streets (if you’re lucky and there’s a spot available). There is also pay parking at the Lonsdale Quay Public Market, at the nearby Pinnacle Hotel, in the ICBC parkade across the street, and underground at the Shipyards.

Other Things to See and Do in the Area

Other places of interest near the Museum of North Vancouver include the following (all of which are within a five-minute walk away):

Many events take place nearby at different times of the year. Some happen at Lonsdale Quay, some at the Shipyards and others at nearby Waterfront Park. The Shipyards Night Market, for example, happens on Friday evenings from May until September most years. Live music also often takes place at Shipbuilders’ Square on Saturday evenings in the summer.

Check out our article about the City and District of North Vancouver for a list of other events and things to do in the area.

Other Information

Visit the MONOVA website for more information about what to expect at the Museum of North Vancouver.

The museum joins the Archives of North Vancouver under the MONOVA brand. The archives are located at 3203 Institute Road in Lynn Valley (which is about a 15-minute drive away).

Other articles that might be of interest include the following: