Vancouver Police Museum

Located in the city’s old coroner’s office and morgue, the Vancouver Police Museum is an attraction that showcases Vancouver’s history of crime and police.

It’s a small museum, but an interesting one. It’s also the oldest police museum in North America.

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This article contains the following information about the Vancouver Police Museum:

About the Museum | Admission | Hours | Venue Location | Other Information

Vancouver’s Museum about Crime and Policing

Opened in 1986 as a celebration of the Vancouver Police Department’s centennial anniversary, the Vancouver Police Museum & Archives showcases the history of crime and law enforcement in Vancouver. The Museum is in a historical building that used to be the site of the city’s morgue and Coroner’s Court.

Exhibits at the museum examine the history of policing in Vancouver as well as the city’s Coroner’s Service and the City Analyst Laboratory. In total, the museum has about five or so historical exhibits.

The Vancouver Police Historical Society is the registered charity that runs the museum. The organization’s goal is to create connections between law enforcement and the public and to get folks interested in the history of the Vancouver Police Department.

FORBIDDEN VANCOUVER WALKING TOURS

If you like crime stories and want to learn more about Vancouver’s past and present, then check out Forbidden Vancouver. This organization offers a number of great walking tours including a couple in and around Gastown. The Lost Souls of Gastown Tour in particular has a focus on history and crime!

About the Museum

Built in 1932, the building that currently houses the Vancouver Police Museum has a long history with law enforcement in the city. Originally home to Vancouver’s Coroner’s Court and autopsy services, it later housed the City Analyst’s Laboratory. The building served as a makeshift hospital for a period of time as well.

In addition to its museum exhibits, the attraction also hosts special events. These include Spring Break and other camps for children. The facility shows adult horror films from time to time too.

Museum Admission

Admission rates as of January 2024 are listed below. (NOTE: Prices and other details are subject to change.)

Adults – $13.50
Students (with ID) and seniors (over 65) – $12.00
Youth (ages 5 to 18) – $10.00
Families (two youths & two adults) – $35.00

One-hour private tours of the museum are also available for a fee. For current prices and availability, you need to contact the museum.

As the museum is run by a non-profit society, all admission proceeds and other sales made at the museum go directly to offsetting the costs of operating the facility.

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Museum Hours

As of early 2023, the Vancouver Police Museum is open from Thursdays to Saturday from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and on Sundays from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and on public holidays.

Venue Location

Located at 240 East Cordova Street, the museum is slightly removed from Gastown and the core of downtown Vancouver. Gastown is about a 10-minute walk west of the Police Museum. Waterfront Station, Vancouver’s main transportation hub, is less than a 20-minute walk away. The museum is also just a couple of blocks from Vancouver’s Chinatown.