The Samson V Maritime Museum allows visitors to explore the nautical history of New Westminster by hopping aboard a paddlewheeler itself!
Moored at the Westminster Quay, the Samson V is a majestic sternwheel snagpuller that journeyed to and fro the Fraser River for 40 years before being retired as a floating museum in 1980. Today, you can climb aboard the Samson V, which has been painstakingly restored to its former glory and houses an extensive collection of artifacts which traverse the history of steam vessels in this region. Visitors can discover the museum on a guided tour which leads them through the galley, the mess, the cabin and the engine area, all of which are maintained in impeccable condition. The photograph display panels, which the museum exhibits, recount the early days of the Fraser River and the riverboat captains who sailed through its waters. The Samson V Maritime Museum also provides visitors with interpretative brochures through which they can gain a unique insight into life aboard a working riverboat.
The museum also conducts a number of educational programs which have been designed to suit students of grades 2 to 5. When visiting the Samson V Maritime Museum, don't forget to carry your camera along to capture some of the most spectacular views of the Fraser River, the city has to offer.
The museum welcomes visitors from noon to 5 pm and is open in the months of May and June on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, all through the week from July to Labor Day and weekends and holidays in the weeks between Labor Day and mid-October. Admittance is by donation and if you plan to visit in a group, you can even call ahead and arrange for a special docent-guided tour.
For further information, you can refer to the website http://www.nwpl.ca/nwheritage.org/heritagesite/orgs/samson/index.htm or call the Samson V Maritime Museum at (604) 522-6894.
The Samson V Maritime Museum
105-1005 Columbia St.
New Westminster BC V3M 6H5
