We are thrilled to present a very exciting season this year at the Museum and Archives. As we are celebrating 50 years of collecting, preserving and presenting Bowen’s history and we are dedicating all our exhibitions this year to Bowen Island’s unique ability to celebrate.
We are starting with “Visiting the Happy Isle, a Paradise Playground,” in the permanent gallery on Saturday April 8th. There you can experience the early 1900s and the Union Steamship Days through artifacts, photos, and personal accounts. A recollection of a time when visitors to Bowen came to have the best times of their lives; dancing, picnicking, dining and having fun at play.
For our big summer exhibition we will look at how Bowen Island has celebrated since then. We want to tell your stories of Bowfest, Canada Day’s and the Centennial, private, business and group celebrations, anniversaries, inaugurations, openings and so on. The exhibit will open up in early June. And yes, we would like to hear from you.
The Remembrance Day exhibit will celebrate the many people in our community who keep memory alive, foremost the dedicated community in and around the Legion and its members.
And last but not least our Christmas exhibit. We want to celebrate communal and family traditions of Bowen Islanders. What are your favourite Christmas traditions, and yes, this includes the museums tradition of our popular Bear Display.
This is your year in history, Bowen. Stop by, say hello and share your stories, and help us to celebrate your Bowen Island. We look forward to making this a year to remember. We are open Wednesday to Sundays 12-4 pm. We’ll host a meet-and-greet opening reception on Saturday 8th. From 12-2pm.
photo cutline: Couples in the Dance Pavilion, 1940s.
photo credit: Bowen Island Museum and Archives
