Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park

Description

The Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park in Kamloops, British Columbia, offers a deep and personal look into the history, culture, and resilience of the Secwepemc people. Spread over 12 acres along the South Thompson River, it intertwines indoor museum exhibits with a sprawling outdoor heritage park that still carries the quiet energy of the land’s traditional use. The experience is not just about looking at artifacts behind glass; it’s about being able to walk the grounds, imagine communities that came before, and see the ways traditions live on today. Visitors tend to feel a mix of reverence and curiosity here, and it’s hard not to. You can sense the footprint of generations who lived, gathered, and thrived in this territory long before the city sprouted up around it.

Inside, galleries dive into the Secwepemc Nation’s cultural heritage with stories told through preserved items, photographs, and voices that remember a time before colonization. The museum presents pre-contact history, traditional lifeways, and language, but also wrestles with harder truths—like the legacy of the Kamloops Indian Residential School, part of Canada’s history that is both painful and essential to understand. It is not sugar-coated, and that honesty makes the space feel all the more important. For many, the visit becomes a balance of learning and reflecting—a reminder that heritage includes joy and struggle side by side.

The adjacent Heritage Park extends the story outdoors. Paths wind through a reconstructed traditional winter village site, pit houses, ancient archaeological remains, and interpretive panels that bring the land’s significance to life. There’s an intimacy here—you’re not packed into crowded streets or fenced-off areas; you’re moving through an open landscape that feels like it wants to be explored at your own, unhurried pace. In summer, when the earth is warm and the river shimmers, the park feels alive; in autumn, the changing leaves lend a different type of reverence. And if you happen to catch one of the cultural demonstrations or storytelling events, you’ll see just how much living knowledge is still passed down within this community today.

The atmosphere is welcoming, especially for families and those with a genuine interest in Indigenous history and cultural education. While most of the park is wheelchair accessible, some older paths can be a little uneven, so it’s a good idea to plan accordingly. The absence of a restaurant on-site means many people bring a small picnic or plan to eat back in Kamloops afterward. But the lack of commercial clutter here is, in a way, part of its charm—it keeps the focus on the stories, the land, and the people whose connection to it remains unbroken.

What stands out most is the sense that this is not a static, “finished” historical site. The Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park feels like an evolving place—rooted in the past but deeply connected to present-day community life. It’s a place where you can learn, but also a space that asks you to listen. The mix of quiet open spaces, informative exhibits, and cultural narratives makes it a rare opportunity for travelers to connect intimately with the heritage of the Interior Plateau region of Canada. Those who engage fully here leave with more than photographs; they leave with a broader understanding of the Secwepemc people’s place in history—and their enduring presence today.

Location

Places to Stay Near Secwepemc Museum and Heritage Park

Find and Book a Tour

Explore More Travel Guides