Pacific Museum of Earth

The Pacific Museum of Earth is a hidden gem focused solely on the Earth Sciences. It is found on the University of British Columbia (UBC) campus in downtown Vancouver. Exhibits are located in both the Earth and Ocean Sciences Main Building and Earth Sciences Building located along the Main Mall.

The museum, UBC’s first, was founded in 1925 and has operated in its current form since 2003. Pacific Museum of Earth state’s that its mission is to “engage and educate a diverse audience by curating and interpreting Earth’s natural wonders.” This is accomplished through exhibits and educational programs using the 30,000 artifacts in the museum’s collections.

In addition to the expected dinosaurs, fossils, and rocks and minerals displays, Pacific Museum of Earth offers some unique geological exhibits such as the Omniglobe, Evolution of Earth, and Rock Slabs wall on the building’s exterior. Admission is by donation which can be cash at the museum, or online.

The UBC campus is home to four museums plus three galleries. That alone sounds like a day of activities at least. Also, there are plenty of other attractions in the heart of Vancouver as well, not to mention the ocean being right there. When visiting the Lower Mainland, be sure to add the university to your itinerary and check them all out.