Welcome to the Quesnel & District Museum and Archives
There is always plenty to discover at the Quesnel Museum. Learn the secrets of "Mandy, the Haunted Doll." Listen to the stories of Chinese and First Nations Elders or visit a Sikh temple through interactive video installations. Meet the residents of early twentieth century Quesnel through the remarkable photographs of C.D. Hoy and C.S. Wing. Dress up in the children's activity centre or participate in a scavenger hunt.
Favourite exhibits include the Titanic, Footprints in Stone, dedicated to local First Nations culture, and vignettes recreating Quesnel's pioneer homes and businesses. From rare Chinese artifacts used during the gold rush era, to ephemera that will evoke childhood memories, the extensive collections are sure to appeal to all ages and interests. Come and see why the Quesnel Museum has been proclaimed one of BC's top 10 community museums.
Featured Photo of the month
The New York Giants vs the Cariboo Cavemen - 1929
Hockey has a long tradition in Quesnel. An outdoor rink was built on Front Street in 1908 and a “skating house,” to change and warm up in, was added in 1911. The Cariboo Observer contains colourful accounts of hockey games between the single and married men, the Native Sons and the Outlanders, the Holly Rollers and the Home Brews, or the town team and the Bridgemen (in 1927 during the construction of the bridge over the Quesnel River). As early as 1915 there was a match between two women’s hockey teams. There were also tournaments between rival communities such as Prince George, Alexandria, or Barkerville. The outings for these tournaments would last two or three days and the visiting team and their followers were entertained at dinners and dances as well as playing several games.
This photo is from the collection of Arthur Duclos and was taken in 1929 when he was 12. Recorded on the back are the names the boys selected for their teams: The New York Giants vs the Cariboo Cavemen. They are identified, back row, standing left to right: Allan Lunn, Felix Healy, Ronny Moffat, Albert Campbell, Dinty (George) Johnston, Jake Fraser, and John Dowie. Sitting in the Front Row from left to right are Calvin Tinley, John Healy, Gordon MacNaughton, Doug Boyd, Jim Strong, Clyde Butterfield and Art Duclos. Several of these boys became local hockey stars.
