Northern BC is home to a unique facility that has been drawing crowds from near and far. Take a walk back in time, run with Terry Fox, learn about the lives of the area’s First Nations people, and let children (of all ages!) see, touch and explore.
The Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre is situated in Prince George at 333 Becott Place in Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. The Exploration Place is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is only closed on Christmas Day and New Years’ Day.
There is so much to see and do here, you certainly won’t be bored. The George Phillips Exhibit Gallery is currently featuring Terry Fox and his incredible journey, and this will be on display until Jan. 13, 2019, when the exhibit will change again.
George Phillips was the museum’s executive director from 1992 to 2003, and he was instrumental in the museum’s major rebranding efforts and expansion in 2001. Past exhibits in this gallery have included Animal Gibberish, Clovis – Caribou Hunters, Worlds Of The Night, Echoes In The Ice – Finding Franklin’s Ship and so much more.
The museum is also home to a paleontology gallery, home to full-size dinosaur models and fossils that date back over 70 million years, and there’s also a children’s gallery for young explorers to get their hands wet (there’s a water table!) and they can let their imagainations run wild.
In 2017, the museum, in partnership with the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, opened the Hodul’eh-a: A Place Of Learning. This gallery is home to images, archival documents, artifacts and more that represent the history and culture of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nations people – the city of Prince George sits on the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and this space is invaluable for locals and tourists alike to learn the culture and contributions of the Lheidli T’enneh.
Don’t forget to explore the Ted Williams History Hall and sit in an authentic 1821 jail cell! The Biome, which opened in May 2012, is home to things that creep and crawl and slither, and you can even get up-close-and-personal with these residents every day around 10:30 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., museum staff treat preschoolers and school-aged children to family-friendly science demonstrations, sure to wow and amaze and inspire young minds.
In the summer months, there’s a steam engine available for rides, and don’t forget to stop by the ice cream shop for an added treat!
Daily admission rates for adults are $11, $8 for children over 2 and up to 12 years of age, and a seniors’ ticket is $9. There are also family and group rates available, and the museum’s website contains information about after-school care, summer care, field trips and camps. Visit theexplorationplace.com for more information, and keep up with the museum’s activities on Facebook.
