Top 9 Museums in Central City, Okanagan Valley

The Hambleton Galleries have been the Okanagan's fine art gallery since 1963, showcasing the best of local and Canadian art.

Enter a visionary dreamscape as you step through the doors of Karmyc Bazaar... RECONNECT with your inner creative self and GET INSPIRED by the beauty of the artwork showcased on our walls. Owners Jennelle & Tait McGuire are delighted to share a plethora of amazing Canadian talent, including their own leather designs.

Discover the natural and human history of Kelowna. Museums are living places, and that’s true of Kelowna’s flagship museum, the Okanagan Heritage Museum too. In fact, the entire permanent gallery has been reimagined! In spring 2019, we wrapped up a multi-year process that saw us overhaul our entire permanent gallery. Pay us a visit and enjoy our ‘new’ museum. Experience fascinating displays and learn how the Okanagan valley was formed, and why it supports tremendous biodiversity. Step into the world of the syilx/Okanagan people, and gain insights into their close connection to the land. Learn about the arrival of traders and settlers, and peer into the windows of an original “Chinatown” shop. Meet some individuals from Kelowna’s past and present, and be inspired by the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame. This museum is also home to two important facilities: the Kelowna Public Archives and the Ursula Surtees Regional Conservation Laboratory.

Meet the people from Okanagan Valley who served in the armed forces. Step inside this museum, and you will feel the passion of the volunteers who founded it. It is packed with uniforms, insignia, badges, and one of the best firearms collections in Canada. Investigate artefacts from the Boer War, World War I and World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, and contemporary military operations. The Okanagan Military Museum is devoted to the preservation and greater awareness of Okanagan military heritage, and reveals how locals contributed to events on the world stage. Join us for the November lecture series, for Remembrance Day, and for school, family, and group programs all year. Researchers will enjoy the Vince Bezeau Military Archives and Library. A visit to the Okanagan Military Museum fosters a greater connection to the Okanagan men and women who served.

As a world-class venue celebrating creative expression through diverse art forms and disciplines, the Rotary Centre for the Arts is a unique City of Kelowna facility in which individuals of all ages and backgrounds can come together to share in the excitement of strengthening art and culture in the Okanagan.

Located in the heart of Kelowna's Cultural District, the Kelowna Art Gallery is the leading public art gallery in the Central Okanagan and is among the most respected in Western Canada. Over 700 works comprise the Gallery’s permanent collection, most by contemporary Canadian artists, with a focus on BC and Okanagan artists. Committed to providing public access to the visual arts, the Kelowna Art Gallery offers a wide variety of exhibitions, art classes, workshops, art camps, lectures, and events for people of all ages. The Gallery also serves as a gathering place for the community at large, and is frequently the site of both public and private special events.

The Okanagan Wine and Orchard Museum is ripening… Unearth the agricultural treasures that make our region unique at the Okanagan Wine and Orchard Museum. Vibrantly painted fruit crates, live bee hives and cherry pitting equipment are yours to explore. Discover how the booming Okanagan wine industry has diversified our landscape with stories of wine makers, entrepreneurs and local wineries. Uncover the rich history of two of our world-class industries along with the dedication involved in their success!

The Laurel Packinghouse was built in 1917, using bricks made locally from Knox Mountain clay. At that time, what is now Kelowna's Cultural District was packed with fruit warehouses, canneries, and a sawmill. Today it houses the BC Wine and Orchard Museums, as well as serving as a unique venue for weddings and business functions.