Vancouver Police Museum & Archives
About This Museum
The Vancouver Police Museum carves out a truly unique niche, not in a grand, purpose-built hall, but within the unassuming walls of a former coroner's court and city morgue. This gives the entire experience an immediate, palpable gravity you won't find anywhere else. It’s a stalwart institution dedicated to the gritty, human history of law enforcement in the city, packed with a staggering 20,000 artifacts that tell stories from the beat. You're not just learning history here; you're walking through the very rooms where it was processed.
Collection Highlights
The collection is a fascinatingly macabre cabinet of curiosities, from a wall of decommissioned weapons and counterfeit currency to preserved organs demonstrating the cause of death in historic cases. Its most compelling exhibit might be the old autopsy suite itself, left largely intact and offering a sobering glimpse into forensic science of a bygone era.
Visitor Information
Don't expect a shiny, hands-on interactive center; this is a place for contemplation and true-crime enthusiasts. It's compact and can be thoroughly explored in an hour or two, making it a perfect, offbeat stop before exploring Vancouver's Gastown district just steps away.
Architecture & Building
Housed in a heritage building that feels every bit its age, the space is defined by its original function rather than any particular architectural flourish. The atmosphere is shaped by old tile work, utilitarian corridors, and the weight of its past life as a morgue.
Contact & Location
Address: Vancouver Police Museum, 240, East Cordova Street, Downtown Eastside, Strathcona, Vancouver, Metro Vancouver Regional District, British Columbia, V6A, Canada
Phone: +1 604-665-3346
Website: Visit Website
