Vancouver Police Museum
The basics
Vancouver Police Museum can be explored independently or as part of guided tours, which can be booked in advance of visiting. The museum also runs seasonal crime-themed walking tours around Vancouver. These tours focus on the darker history of nearby neighborhoods such as Gastown, Chinatown, and Strathcona. Tours include entrance to the museum, where exhibits include old police uniforms, confiscated guns, counterfeit currency, and several important pieces of evidence.
Things to know before you go
- Vancouver Police Museum is a must for true crime enthusiasts.
- The museum-led walking tours are very popular, so it’s worth booking them in advance to ensure a spot.
- The museum also hosts movie screenings in the morgue.
- Vancouver Police Museum is not wheelchair-accessible, and entering requires the use of steps.
How to get there
Vancouver Police Museum is in downtown Vancouver, between Gastown and Chinatown. Ride the SeaBus, SkyTrain, or West Coast Express rail to Waterfront station. From there, it’s about a 15-minute walk to the museum.
Trip ideas
When to get there
Vancouver Police Museum is open Tuesday–Saturday. Get there right when it opens to explore it at its quietest. The best time to visit is between April and October, when regular tours are scheduled.
The History of the Coroner’s Court
Though the museum was only founded in 1986, the building it occupies dates back to 1932. A designated heritage building, it originally served as the coroner’s courtroom, city morgue, autopsy facility, and forensic lab, where state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge methods were used to investigate crimes. The lab, which shut in 1996, has been left much as it was when it closed, as has the old autopsy room, where original tissue samples can still be seen.
- Vancouver Chinatown
- Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
- Science World at TELUS World of Science
- Vancouver Lookout
- Canada Place
- FlyOver Canada
- Gastown
- Library Square
- BC Place Stadium
- Vancouver Olympic Village (VVL)
- Vancouver Olympic Cauldron
- Bill Reid Gallery
- Downtown Vancouver
- Vancouver Art Gallery
- Yaletown