Historic Attractions Guide

Revelstoke has changed a lot since its incorporation as a railway town and the Revelstoke Museum and Archives is the place to find out all about the town’s rich history. It’s a great family activity, with fun interactive exhibits and fantastic activities.

Try the Brown Bag Lunch History Talks to hear talks on fascinating local facts, take a guided cemetery tour to learn about Revelstoke residents of yore, or enroll your kids in the summer activity camps. Find out all about Canada’s most deadly avalanche and check out their newest exhibit about the lost communities that hide under the waters around Revelstoke.

Ever wanted to see a locomotive up close? Want to find out what it’s like to live in a caboose? The Railway Museum is for you! There’s a lot to see and plenty to find out about Revelstoke’s railway history. The railroad is woven into the very fabric of our town and the Railway Museum is a snapshot into the importance of the tracks to Revelstoke past and present.

Pro-tip: If railway history is your thing, check out the Last Spike at Craigellachie – a 30-minute drive west of Revelstoke on Highway #1.

Find out about the forestry in the Revelstoke area at the BC Interior Forestry Museum. Located 5 minutes from Revelstoke up Highway 23 North, the museum has a replica fire tower, a collection of antique machinery, gift shop, a view of the Revelstoke Hydro Dam, and a Riverside Forest Walk.

Pro-tip: check out the forestry museum then head up to the Revelstoke Hydro Dam, they are right next to each other!

The Revelstoke Dam is an engineering marvel and a nod to the town’s industrial history. The dam showcases the development of hydroelectric power that helped shape the region.

Explore the interactive exhibits about the construction, operation, and impact of the dam on local communities and the environment. A tour of the dam includes a walk to the top of the towering structure, offering panoramic views of the Columbia River and surrounding mountains.

Pro-tip: the visitor centre is only open during the summer months, for views of the hydro dam, head to the Forestry Museum.

Just 15 minutes west of Revelstoke on Highway #1,  you’ll find 3 Valley Gap Ghost Town. Sitting at the merging of (you’ve guessed it) three valleys, the Ghost Town is a collection of historic buildings from the local area set against a beautiful mountain backdrop and lake. Step back in time and explore the way life used to be while you soak up the views!

Pro-tip: each fall, the ghost town plays on Halloween and sets up spooky and fun installations around the town!

On Highway #1 in Glacier National Park sits Rogers Pass Discovery Centre, a replica of a historic railway snowshed, that sits at the heart of the Rogers Pass National Historic Site.

Here you will learn the stories of triumphs & tragedies that define this national historic site. The museum features a theatre and exhibits about avalanches, wildlife, and the history of the area. The Discovery Centre is the only frontcountry facility open during the early spring and winter when campgrounds, trails, and day-use areas lie under a two-metre blanket of snow.

The Nels Nelsen Ski Jump on Mount Revelstoke is a historic site once used for national and international competitions. Named after local ski jumper Nels Nelsen, who set world records in the 1920s and 1930s, it celebrates Revelstoke’s skiing history. Visitors can hike the area, explore interpretive signs, and enjoy scenic views of the Columbia Valley and the town of Revelstoke.

After a leisurely drive up the Meadows in the Sky Parkway, take a stroll through history. The Koo Koo Sint Trail celebrates the expeditions of explorer David Thompson, while the First Footsteps Trail takes visitors on a 750-metre loop through subalpine meadows enhanced with original First Nations artwork.