R.J. Haney Heritage Village and Museum

Discover this beautiful park set on 40 acres of pioneer Shuswap farm land,  R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum is the Shuswap’s largest heritage attraction. Start your visit at the Haney House.  Over the past few years the house has seen restorations reflecting the beauty of the 1910 Edwardian era.  Guided tours of the house are available upon request for $5.00 per person.  Stroll through the heritage gardens in the yard of the house and you cannot help but notice the variety of rose bushes and the heritage vegetable garden all tended to by the Village Gardener.  The gardens were designed in 1993 by landscape architect Patricia Reith, and reflect the beauty of the house. 

Vegetables and fruits grown in the gardens at the Village are served in Marjorie’s Tea Room.  The tea room is open during Village operational hours and serves tea goodies, beverages, and  a homemade daily lunch special featuring recipes from many of our local pioneers. 

As you step back in time explore the Village, covering 12 acres of the park you can discover our pioneer history in the 13 original or replica buildings that tell stories of Salmon Arm.  Start your tour in the Museum and pick up a self guided tour guide which will take you to the Queest Mountain Forestry Tower, Broadview School, Mt Ida Church, Salmon Arm’s first filling station, Fire Hall, Newnes Blacksmith Shop, Lester and Thomson Garage, and more.  Not to be missed is Sam Beemish’s “Home Studio” with the largest public collection of cylinders and records in Western Canada.

In the Museum’s gallery enjoy the exhibit “Flight from the Flames”   In August 1998 the fire that swept Mt. Ida is but an old memory. When the army moved in and the people left, Salmon Arm became a ghost town.  The story of the threat that evacuated the community is explored, many of those affected interviewed, and startling newspaper coverage and photographs reproduced. Working in partnership with Black Press and the Salmon Arm Observer, the Salmon Arm Museum’s exhibit chronicles the catastrophic event. The 1998 images by award winning photographer James Murray have been reshot. The community has survived and it is time to celebrate!

New this season in the gallery you will discover the exhibit “Granite Creek Fish Hatchery”.  Celebrating a peak year for the return of the sockeye, the gallery display comes from the Curator's list of "must tell" stories and exhibits. It is the narrative of a regional fish hatchery supported by a collection of photographs, glass plate negatives, correspondence, and artefacts. 

The exhibit tells the story of D.S. (Scotty) Mitchell, Director of the Granite Creek Fish Hatchery, and salmon stock depletion along the Fraser River and its tributaries. Scotty Mitchell was an environmentalist ahead of his time.  When the Dominion Government fish hatchery was established at Tappen in 1901, Mitchell was appointed as its first and only superintendent, continuing in that capacity until the hatchery was abandoned in 1916.

Mitchell is widely recognized as an expert on salmon propagation.  This exhibit illustrates the lifecycle of the salmon, how salmon eggs are harvested, fertilized, incubated, and released, and Mitchell’s concerns for our future. Partners include Kingfisher Interpretive Centre and Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

While touring the Haney House you will discover “The Story of Ruth: the Water Colour Journals of Arthur Adair Brooke”, a beautiful selection of digitized images illustrating a father’s love for his daughter.  Beginning in 1921, Brooke recorded the babe’s development in water colour paintings like modern parents snap digital images.  Follow the story in Marjorie’s Tea Room and see Ruth growing up in “the Valley” at the Mt. Ida District.

Need to stretch your legs? Take a walk on our 2.34 km nature walking trails. The easy stroll takes the visitor through four climatic zones. With our field guide in hand, identify the plants used by the First Nations and pioneer families for food and medicine. If you like treasure hunting and have a GPS unit, try looking for hidden geocaches; it’s a great way to find new areas to explore.

Always popular, Dinner Theatre known for a great pioneer meal and entertaining play full of original musical scores and humorous tales tell the history of the area.  Dinner theatre is a highlight of Salmon Arm’s summer entertainment and one you won’t want to miss. Shows are Wednesday, Friday and Sunday during July and August.  Reservations are a must! Book early and bring your family and friends.

The Village is located just minutes east of Salmon Arm, find R.J. Haney Heritage Village and Museum near the junction of Highway 97B and the Trans Canada Highway. The Village opens May 11th and closes Sept. 17th. Days and hours of operation are Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - July and August open 7 days a week. Admission is by donation.

Every month from May through October the Village hosts a community event fun for all ages. For more information or to book weddings, reunions, or Dinner Theatre reservations contact us by telephone at 250-832-5243, email info@salmonarmmuseum.org or like us at facebook.com/Haneyheritage. 

Remember to check our updates throughout the year on our website and Facebook Page with program announcements, special events, hours of operation, links to the Curator’s Blog, the Heritage Update Newsletter and much more www.salmonarmmuseum.org

The Village is a great place to visit with friends and family!  With a variety of sights to see and explore spend the whole day getting to know Salmon Arm’s history at the Village.