These museums are not different, they are special!
What is a specialty museum? It is a museum whose theme is specific to a unique item or set of items and can be specific to a part of history. We all know what Classic Cars means, right? What about model trains, or unique tools, early 1900’s equipment, or just a scientific museum? It is all in the Okanagan and there are quite a few specialty museums, each unique from the other and each a treat to visit and experience, especially for the kids in your family (includes Adult kids too!).
North Okanagan Specialty Museums
Enderby Area specialty museums
Map Image © Google Maps
Enderby Area Specialty Museums
Enderby is sits along the Shuswap River and around 1876, the river bend became the landing spot named “Lambly’s Landing”, for a steamboats and paddlewheelers to deliver supplies from Kamloops.
By 1887, a roller mill…(more details next)
By 1887, a roller mill was built along the banks of the river to mill wheat. By 1892, Shuswap and Okanagan Railroad was completed bringing prosperity to Enderby. Many other industries developed as a result. At the heart of all this early development were many tools and steam powered machines.
Deep Creek Tool Museum
Vernon Area specialty museums
Map Image © Google Maps
Vernon Area Specialty Museums
To know the character of Vernon is to understand the scope of its history. From early pioneers to agricultural settlements, to industrial development, to military training, to science. This is where specialty museums in Vernon serve to show us the diverse influences that shaped Vernon’s history.
Okanagan Science Centre
Vernon Cadet Camp Museum
Central Okanagan Specialty Museums
Kelowna Area specialty museums
Map Image © Google Maps
Kelowna Area Specialty Museums
Kelowna has many attractions for the visitor and specialty museums are no exception.
Along with the regular museums in Kelowna, they can boast several specialty museums covering the range of pioneer settlers and settlements, other Okanagan heritages, agriculture, to the military.
South Okanagan Specialty Museums
Osoyoos Area specialty museums
Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad-entrance (Closed) © Google Maps-Street View
Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad
Permanently Closed
As of September 30, 2021, Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad specialty museum has permanently Closed. The owners chose to retire and sadly, permanently stop all contributions of their specialty museum.
Penticton Area specialty museums
Map Image © Google Maps
Penticton Area Specialty Museums
In the early 1900’s, when Penticton was still young, transportation by land was difficult, especially to deliver supplies, because of the rugged local terrain. As a result, transportation to Penticton was primarily by water on Okanagan Lake.
It was not until 1910 that Penticton became the headquarters for the Kettle Valley Railway, which increased transportation routes, boosting economic wealth for the Penticton area. Until then, transportation into and out of Penticton was mainly by steam ship.
S.S. Sicamous Museum and Heritage Park
Summerland Area specialty museums
Map Image © Google Maps
Summerland Area Specialty Museums
In the latter part of the 1800’s, transportation in the Okanagan, including to the Summerland area, was by boat or train. That changed a lot in the early 20th century with the advent of the automobile (early 1900’s model T-Fords). Okanagan Lake would freeze over and boats could not travel a frozen lake, but the cars of that time could, with some tire chains wrapped around their wheels.
Those early times of transportation are now long gone, but not the memories, as you shall see in Summerland Specialty Museums.
Nixdorf Classic Cars Museum