Virtual Exhibit – From Tides to Tins

These are certainly unprecedented times that we are living in right now. While many of the world’s historic sites and museums remain temporarily closed, those of us browsing for things to do online have discovered that several of them offer virtual tours. This list from Travel and Leisure has some great suggestions – for example, you can use Google Street View to explore the British Museum and got a close-up view of the Rosetta Stone!

Like many cultural and historic sites around the world, with the temporary closure of all Parks Canada visitor facilities, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site in Steveston is also closed. Did you know that we too have an exhibit that you can enjoy from the comfort of your home?

From Tides to Tins: Salmon Canning in B.C.  is the Cannery’s Virtual Museum of Canada online exhibit, featuring an interactive map to explore and learn about the 220+ canneries that have existed along the coastline of British Columbia.  You can also follow a timeline, illustrated by hundreds of archival photographs, to see how world events and technological changes impacted Canada’s west coast canning industry, or watch videos in the Working the Line section to see the machines at work.

And for a fun diversion, try out the Build Your Own Cannery  Cannery Manager’s game. This game asks you to think like a cannery manger and make decisions that will maximize profits for your cannery. If you do well, Herbert Gilmore Anderson, the cannery’s owner and investor, will keep you around for the next season. He doesn’t like to lose money, so you will have to make wise decisions.

We hope you have fun exploring this virtual exhibit, and in the meantime, please keep safe and healthy – we look forward to seeing you at the Cannery again in person!