User:Sidney Museum/Sidney museum

The Sidney Historical Museum is a non-profit community organization located in Sidney, BC which is dedicated to the history of Sidney and North Saanich. Run by the Society of Saanich Peninsula Museums in cooperation with the Town of Sidney, the museum promotes awareness of local heritage through exhibits, programs, and collections. Its permanent collection consists of over 6000 items. In addition to its permanent exhibits, the museum also has rotating monthly exhibits. The museum celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2011.

Exhibits
The focus of the permanent displays in the Sidney Historical Museum is the human history of Sidney and the North Saanich Peninsula. This includes the First Nations groups of the Peninsula- particularly the Coast Salish located at Tsehum harbour, the pioneer families of the area, economic ventures and development throughout the past century, the beginnings of the railway and transportation systems in the area, the development of the Town of Sidney, the effect of the World Wars on the residents, and the establishment of ferry links between Sidney and the surrounding islands.

The collection includes a reproduction of Critchley’s Store (in operation in Sidney between 1899-1930s), a reproduction of a pioneer-style kitchen, models of and artifacts from the SS Iroquois, and artifacts from local businesses including the Sidney Mill, Saanich Cannery, and the Victoria & Sidney (V&S) railroad.

Emphasis is placed on how artifacts were used and what day-to-day life consisted of throughout the history of Sidney and North Saanich.

2011 Monthly Displays
January-March: Lego April: Quilting May: Gone Fishing June: Wood Carving and Turning July-August: Beacon Beckons – Beacon Avenue through the Ages September: Plein Air Painters October: Deep Cover Weaver and Spinners November: A Tribute to the Military December: A Teddy Bear Christmas

Archives
The Sidney Archives operates in conjunction with the Museum. Holding mainly textual documents and photographs, the Archives contains material specifically related to the history of Sidney and North Saanich. This includes holdings of “The Review,” the local newspaper, from between 1912-1989, an extensive photograph collection from the Sidney Experimental Farm, and Sidney Municipal records. The collection is focused mainly between 1910-1980, though the scope of the collection ranges from between 1850 to the present day. The Archives also contains a small library of published material, a collection of oral history transcriptions, and information about heritage properties in the area. The Archives is open to the public between Monday and Saturday, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm or by appointment.