qathet Museum & Archives
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    • Forestry Building
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​Forestry Building

Currently Closed (Open Seasonally July - August)
​Located across the qathet Museum and Archives on the Willingdon Beach Park, is the Forestry Building. Explore the logging history of qathet and learn about equipment used in the forestry industry.
 

Current Displays

  • Chainsaw Collection​
  • Railway Logging
  • Shake and Shingles
  • Forest Fires
  • Local Trees
  • Steam Era
  • Oxen & Horse Logging ​
  • Malaspina Naturalists: Nature in and Around Powell River
  • Marine Life

History

The Forestry Museum was founded in the early 1980s by a dedicated group of local people including Charlie and Gerri Parsons, Jack McCuish, Bill Finn, Andy Culos, Bill Tuba and Ken Gordon. They sought and received permission from the City to take over the present Forestry Museum building which had been retired as the Willingdon Beach bathhouse in the 1970s and was then being used by the City for storage. They also worked with MacMillan Bloedel to get permission to use what is now the historic Willingdon Beach Trail as an outdoor display area for logging equipment. 

In 1986, the Powell River Forestry Museum Society was formed and opened the building as the Forestry Museum during Sea Fair 1985. The Foresrty Museum and Willingdon Beach Trail were improved and developed over the next 29 years, including signature projects of the Steam Donkey in 2001 and Trestle in 2003 under the leadership of WFP Forester Rudi van Zwaaij.

In 2014 the Powell River Forestry Museum Society (PRFHS) members collaborated with the Powell River Historical Museum and Archive Association (PRHMA) to consolidate the indoor assets of the Forestry Museum with the PRHMA collection. The PRHMA now owns and operates the Forestry Museum, and is making progress with improving the combined collection. The former PR Forestry Museum Society renamed itself the PR Forestry Heritage Society. ​
Picture
Picture
In 2003, with Municipal District support, the PRFMS commissioned Janet Blair, Powell River's mural painter, to do the mural on the north side.
Picture
At the May 27 members' meeting, Lee Coulter and Dave Florence sign the agreement to consolidate the Forestry Museum collection with the PRHMA collection to be effective September 1, 2014.
Picture
Opening Hours
Tuesday to Saturday
10 am to 3 pm

Closed Statutory Holidays
Contact Us
604-485-2222
info@qathetmuseum.ca
​4790 Marine Avenue, Powell River BC

© 2023 qathet Museum & Archives
​Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of material on this website. Dates and times are subject to change. 
Territorial Acknowledgement 
The qathet Museum & Archives is located on the traditional territories of the Tla’amin Nation. The Museum is committed to collaborating with all Indigenous peoples of this province including the Tla'amin Nation. We acknowledge the harms of the past, are committed to improving relationships in the spirit of reconciliation, and we extend our appreciation for the opportunity to live and learn on this territory. ​Emote!
  • Exhibits
    • Current Exhibits
    • Forestry Building
    • Virtual Exhibits >
      • Riveting Women
      • Symphonies of the Sunshine Coast
      • Capturing Mountains
      • Story of Cedar
      • Powell River Firsts
      • Rod LeMay Collection
  • Collections
    • Objects
    • Archives >
      • Research Requests
      • Indexes & Finding Aids
      • Archival Descriptions
      • Powell River Digester
      • Phone Books & Directories
      • Good Citizen
      • Record of Military Service
    • Local History Books
  • Programs
    • Public Programs Calendar >
      • Little Wonders
      • Remember When Club
      • Spring Speaker Series
      • Fall Speaker Series
      • Mini-Curators
      • Papermaking
      • Summer Camps
      • Museum In the Park
      • Archaeology Day
    • School Programs >
      • Exhibit Visits
      • Outreach Kits
      • Portal to the Past
      • Educator's Survey
    • Virtual Programs >
      • Virtual Portal To the Past
      • A Taste of qathet's History
      • The Crafty Corner
      • Dive Into the Archives
    • Tours
    • Memoirs
  • Learn
    • Indigenous History
    • Place Names
    • Forestry History
    • Memories of the Mill
    • Community History
    • Blast from the Past
    • The Coast Memoirs
    • Heritage Stops
    • Blog
  • Support
    • Membership
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • Careers
  • About
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • Name Change
    • Our Mandate
    • News & Reports
    • Staff & Board
    • Contact Us