The Shawnigan Lake Historical Society | The Shawnigan Lake Museum

Plan your visit to this engaging Museum in the Cowichan Valley

Explore the beautifully appointed exhibits when visiting the Village.

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When?

Summer Hours:
Thursday - Sunday
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Why?

    • Friendly guides
    • Interactive displays
    • Historical slide shows
    • EJ Hughes Gallery
    • Kinsol Trestle models
    • To check out our Gift Shop
    • Because it's fun!

Where?

1775 Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd.,Shawnigan Lake, BC

Our Mission: To connect community and visitors with the
Shawnigan Lake Experience.

Our Vision: To share the passion for Shawnigan Lake — past,
present and future.

EJ HUGHES GALLERY

E.J. Hughes lived at Shawnigan Lake for over twenty years until he found it too busy and noisy (circa 1970) and moved to Cobble Hill. Hughes' last studio, in a modest house in Duncan, was a spare bedroom, with a table and easel set close to a single north window. He painted there, in the afternoon, six days a week. Sunday was his day off.

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KINSOL TRESTLE

Your GO TO SOURCE for information about the Kinsol Trestle at Shawnigan Lake. Stop by the Museum on your way to/from the Kinsol Trestle to learn it's history. We have two scale models: one 3 foot and one 10 foot! There are also historical and a time lapse restoration video of the Trestle for your enjoyment.

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THE LAST SPIKE

The Last Spike was ceremoniously placed by Sir John A. Macdonald in 1886, at Cliffside. He used a silver hammer and pounded a gold spike. In 1883, the British Columbia Government appealed to Robert Dunsmuir to build a railway. The 72 miles of track, which was laid starting from Esquimalt and Nanaimo met at Mile 25 (Cliffside, Shawnigan Lake).

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