Nanaimo Centennial Museum

Building Details
Name:	Nanaimo Centennial Museum
Address:	100 Cameron Road
Architectural Style:	N/A
Building Use:	Institutional
Year of Construction:	1967
Builder or Architect:	Les Barley
Protected Heritage Property:	No

Heritage Value Statement

Built in 1967 as a legacy project for Canada’s 100th anniversary, the Nanaimo District Museum building is a good example of modern, vernacular institutional architecture. Reflecting the trend toward diverse, eclectic architectural modernism, the quirky octagonal design was meant to symbolically echo the design elements of the nearby Bastion, constructed by the Hudson Bay Company (1853-1855).

The Nanaimo District Museum is significant as the location of the city’s museum for approximately forty years. The Centennial Museum is also significant for its association with local architect, Les Barley. Born in England in 1911, Les Barley came to Nanaimo, via Toronto, in 1948 to work as an architectural assistant for Thomas McArravy. Barley eventually became partners with McArravy and later with Weismiller. During his career, Barley worked throughout the mid-island, designing institutional buildings including the Legion on Wallace Street, an addition to the Malaspina Hotel, Nanaimo District Secondary School, Bowen Park Complex, the Nanaimo Golf Club House and numerous schools. He retired in 1977.

The Nanaimo Centennial Museum is located on a prominent rock outcrop within the City’s downtown core. Set in a municipal park that includes a miner’s cottage and other mining-related artefacts, the Museum building is part of an integrated coal mining education and interpretive site.

Search Again