Princeton and District Museum and Archives (PDMA) is a Society committed to protecting, restoring and collecting items pertaining to the history of Princeton and the surrounding area. PDMA has evolved from a small group of dedicated citizens interested in preserving the area history to the current structure of a registered charity and BC Society. The museum has a wide range of historic collections reflecting Princeton's history.
The museum was established in 1958 in a small log cabin. In 1970 the museum was incorporated as the
Princeton and District Pioneer Museum. A year later, in 1971 the Town of Princeton constructed a new combination Library and Museum building. In 1983 the name was officially changed to that of the
Princeton and District Museum and Archives Society. In 1985 major expansion was undertaken with the construction of the Livery Stables and a Farm Implement Shed. Further expansion came about in 1999 when the
Joe Pollard Wing was constructed to house 40,000 fossils and minerals. A final expansion in 2011 resulted in the museum's expanding into former library space.
Today the museum offers a wonderful
Virtual Tour, allowing those not able to visit Princeton or the museum in person to experience the museum in its entirety. Well worth taking a bit of time to enter, the tour affords an up close and personal view of the wealth of items and artefacts to be found within.
Outside the main building are a few restored or replica buildings. In each building are more topical displays and, in the Farm Implement Shed at the rear of the grounds, is a substantial collection of the agricultural implements of yesteryear.
Museum and Archive Collections
The PDMA has a wide range of historic collections reflecting Princeton's history:
•an extensive range of local pioneer items providing a visual record of life in Princeton
•A First Peoples basket display exhibiting various weaving styles and periods
•a fossil and mineral collection of over 40,000 specimens, many from local sites
•a complete Princeton newspaper collection from 1900 through to the present providing a rare accessible source for local families, historians, students and researchers
•approximately 4,000 photographs from 1880 to present chronicling area history
•audiotape recordings featuring pre-1980 interviews with Princeton pioneers
•historic maps and mining reports from 1858 to present and original records of all mining claims in the area. All of significant value to historians, government and business
•a collection of 83 Notman Studios glass plate photographs; late 1800 - early 1900s
•an 1880’s cabin which housed John Fall Allison’s daughter Lily, her husband John Norman & their 6 children.
The Princeton and District Museum and Archive Society is proud to operate the Princeton Museum. We have one of the finest small town museums in the province.
Our galleries are visually stunning thanks to the efforts of many talented craftsmen and artists. As one of the oldest communities on the mainland, we have a vast collection of fossils, minerals, photographs, newspapers, artifacts and stories that illustrate the history of this area.
We hope you enjoy visiting us online and that if you visit the Similkameen Valley, you will include a stop in Princeton. We are located two blocks away from the centre of town.
From the PDMA