Established in 1955, the Rossland Historical Museum & Archives Association (DBA Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre) is a non-profit society and registered charity whose mission is to preserve and dynamically present the history and heritage of Rossland and area while inspiring and engaging the public through virtual and real life presentations that bring our history to life.

Our vision is that the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre will be:

The visitor gateway to the Kootenays and the Columbia Basin
A landmark site to congregate, create, and strengthen links between diverse communities in the region
An active presence in the community that supports the local economy, spurs partnerships, and regenerates tourism

Check out our 2018 Annual Report here

The Rossland Historical Museum & Archives Association was established by the Rossland Rotary Club in the basement of the Rossland Court House in 1954 and was incorporated under the BC Societies Act in March of 1955. The present museum was built on the site of the Black Bear Mine in 1967 as a Canadian Centennial project thanks to Jack McDonald, Roger Terhune, and many other dedicated community members. The underground mine tour of the Black Bear Mine ran from 1967 to 2009, but is now permanently closed after a thorough review of options. The Rossland Museum Development Committee developed a “Renewal Plan” that prepared a six-phase capital program to update the museum, including Phase Two The Mine Experience: an above ground mine tunnel with interactive exhibitions and much more - the Mine Experience is slated to open to the public in 2021.

In the meantime, the main museum building remains open year round and houses thousands of artifacts on display and in storage rooms. The archives stores and preserves historic photos, documents, the Rossland Miner newspapers from 1896 to 1972, maps, and the City's early assessment and tax rolls, in addition to other important mining and community historical information.

The museum gift shop is home to many pieces from local artists including prints and cards in addition to books, toys, memorabilia, and geological samples.

The upper level of the museum houses the Geology building. This building contains an extensive collection of geological samples from all over the world. There is historic geological and processing equipment and a hands-on rock specimen display. We also have an industrial mineral collection showing the importance of minerals in Canada's history.

The museum is the sponsor organization for Rossland’s Destination BC Visitor Centre and has tourist information, maps, and guides pertaining to BC, the Kootenay Rockies, and other tourist regions as well as our local region. In addition, we have an interactive kiosk for visitors to use.