Police Museum & ArchivesVancouver Police Historical Society
Description
Step into the intriguing world of law enforcement history at the Vancouver Police Museum & Archives (VPMA). Dedicated to preserving the legacy of British Columbia's largest independent municipal agency, along with the historic City Coroner’s Services and the City Analyst's Laboratory, VPMA serves as an educational institution, living memorial, and cultural bridge between Vancouver citizens, visitors, and local law enforcement.
The Vancouver Police Museum Experience
Nestled in the heart of Old Vancouver, amidst the historic districts of Chinatown and Gastown, VPMA offers a captivating journey through time. Housed in a heritage building that once accommodated the City of Vancouver's Coroner’s Court, Morgue, Autopsy Facility, and the original City Analyst's Laboratory, the museum showcases over 30,000 rare artifacts, photos, and archival documents. These treasures, including unique crime-related evidence and groundbreaking forensics, narrate compelling stories of crime, justice, and policing from the city's Wild West origins to contemporary community initiatives.
What's On
Permanent Exhibits:
- Coroner's Court: Serving as the City Coroner’s Courtroom from 1932 to 1980, this main gallery space hosted inquests into deaths and recommended new laws.
- Morgue & Autopsy Suite: Witness a recreated 1970s autopsy suite, where pathologists and coroners strived to unravel the mysteries behind the city's deaths during its tenure as the City Morgue.
- Friends & Family Forensics: Delve into the realm of forensic investigation with private bookings. Test your skills in solving Break & Enter or Kidnapping crimes in a guided forensic activity that includes museum admission and a mini-tour.
Programs Offered
- Break & Enter Investigation (Ages 10-13): Become detectives and examine evidence to uncover the culprit responsible for breaking into the City Analyst's Laboratory.
- Kidnapping Investigation (Ages 14+): Analyze material evidence to piece together the sequence of events leading to the kidnapping of the City Analyst, uncovering motives along the way.
- Private Tour (All Ages): Embark on a guided exploration of the museum's exhibits and historical spaces, including the former Coroner’s Courtroom, City Morgue, and Autopsy Facilities.
Gift Shop
Discover a range of merchandise, from books and candles to mugs and tote bags, at the VPMA Gift Shop. Immerse yourself in the captivating narratives of law enforcement history at the Vancouver Police Museum & Archives, where the past speaks volumes about the evolution of justice and public safety.
Gallery
