Long awaited Museum of Surrey renovations will be completed in September
The Museum of Surrey (17710 56A Avenue) will reopen this Autumn after being closed for renovations for over a year. The wait was hard, but totally worth it, as the new updated museum will double in size for 24,000 feet of space, meaning there is going to be so much more to explore. What’s going into all that space? Where do we begin?
The kids TD Explorer Zone will triple in size with this expansion, so young minds and museum enthusiasts will have plenty to discover during a visit to the museum. Kids will also love the museum’s events that are going to occur throughout the year, which include a Latin Fiesta and a Boo-seum for Halloween. Their first event, is of course their grand opening on September 29th from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. Enjoy new exhibits, live performances, scavenger hunts, crafts, and textile demonstrations!
A permanent Indigenous Hall will be part of the new museum. It will be a flexible, changing space where Surrey’s land-based Indigenous Nations tell THEIR stories. The hall has been designed by the Seyem’ Qwantlen Business Group, who worked collaboratively with Semiahmoo First Nation, Katzie First Nation and Kwantlen First Nation members.
But not all exhibits will be here to stay. There will be space for temporary national and international exhibitions. From September 29th to March 31st you can learn and explore these three exciting exhibits such as “Dinosaurs Unearthed,” where you’ll come face to face with lifelike animatronic dinosaurs, as well as explore a dig site full of bones. In the “TD Explore Zone”, the littlest museum-goers can play and learn with a treehouse, slide, and themed sections for each part of Surrey’s diverse landscape including forest, ocean, and urban settings. In the photo Mural Project, which is a permanent fixture, you can explore over 2,000 photos of faces from the Surrey community in a grand display. Go see it while you can!
Besides exhibits inside the museum, there will also be several heritage buildings relocated to museum grounds. This means important structures will have a safe place to be maintained and enjoyed by all. The buildings making the move to the museum are Surrey’s oldest standing school, Anniedale, and the 1881 Town hall. These two buildings will join the Anderson cabin, which is already present on the museum grounds, making for a lovely heritage square where Surrey’s history can be easily accessed.
All this adventure means you might build up an appetite, luckily the Museum of Surrey will have a Kwantlen Nation provided Lelem’ Café. Here you can find fresh food made with local ingredients. Enjoy your coffee, baked goods, and sandwiches in the outdoor seating space that everyone can enjoy. More than just a museum, this new space is a place for the community to gather.
We can hardly wait until the Museum of Surrey reopens, what is your favourite new addition to the museum?
**Photo credit: City of Surrey