Welcome to the Fernie Museum!

The Fernie District Historical Society was founded in 1964 and is dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of Fernie by collecting and displaying photographs, artifacts and documents relating to Fernie's development. Homeless for the first 15 years, the Society struck an agreement with the Holy Family Church to use the vacant rectory behind the Church as a museum site.

Displays in the museum were designed to showcase life in Fernie in the early part of the twentieth century. On August 4, 1979, coinciding with Fernie's Diamond Jubilee, the museum was officially opened. The rectory served as Fernie's museum for twenty years until 1999 when the Church realized that it would soon need the property for its own purposes.

The Fernie Museum & Visitor Information Centre is now located in one of Fernie's distinctive heritage buildings in historic downtown Fernie at 491 2nd Ave. The building itself, an important example of Fernie's rich history, boasts a main floor exhibit hall with the visitor info centre, as well as a lovely Museum Gallery on the 2nd floor. Public washrooms are available on each floor.

Our dual service as info centre and Museum allows visitors to discover a little about Fernie's colourful past while learning what Fernie and its businesses have to offer for recreation, entertainment, shopping, accommodation and services.

Fernie's early history as well as changing exhibits on various themes are presented on the main floor.

Our Museum Gallery on the 2nd floor, features solo and group exhibitions by local, and regional artists, as well as local and touring historical exhibits. Gallery programming aims to promote professionalism and foster appreciation for arts and culture and bring awareness to the museum’s wealth of archival and artifact material.

Artists and Curators working in any medium or discipline are eligible to apply. The Museum Gallery is a beautiful space and is also available for meetings, lectures, readings, and social gatherings.