About Britannia
Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site
5180 Westwater Drive
Richmond, BC V7E 6P3
Phone: 604-238-8050
Fax: 604-238-8040
Email: britannia@richmond.ca
Britannia Shipyards is an authentic representation of a once-thriving community of canneries, boat yards and residences. Many of the heritage buildings date back to the 1880s and tell the stories of the Chinese, European, Indigenous and Japanese workers through authentic recreations of living and working spaces.
See School Programs, Volunteer Opportunities and Programs and Events for more information.
Spring
Feb 1-May 20
Tue-Sun: 12:00-4:00pm
*Friday May 20: Mama's Fish and Chips on site 11:00am-7:00pm
Summer
May 21-Sep 5
Daily: 10:00am-5:00pm
Fall
Sep 6-Dec 31
Tue-Sun: 12:00-4:00pm
*closed on holidays in Spring and Fall
Due to unforeseen circumstances, such as high tides or for maintenance, buildings might not be open. Check site signage or call 604-238-8050 on day of visit to confirm if buildings are open.
Facilities & Services
- Parking: free parking in lot and on street
- Accessible washrooms
- Picnic tables and field
What's On This Spring
During a visit to Britannia, visitors can explore the numerous exhibits in site buildings and expect to see costumed interpreters and historical demonstrations from when the site was home to a booming community of workers and their families. In addition to the heritage buildings, visitors are encouraged to be on the lookout for vintage wooden boats moored along the Shipyards docks.
A new activity booklet allows kids to discover engaging aspects of various buildings as they play the role of junior boat builder. Participants can pick up the free activity booklet at the front of the Britannia Shipyards building during operational hours.
Other heritage sites near by include: London Heritage Farm, Steveston Museum, Steveston Tram and the Gulf of Georgia Cannery.
Facility Staff
Program Manager: Tricia Buemann
Heritage Coordinator: Tom Long
Museum Coordinator: Gabrielle Sharp
Visitor Services Associate: Lynsey Li
Recreation Leader: Lucy Higgs-Lockie
Destination Development Coordinator: Mimi Horita
Site Information 
Britannia Shipyards is an authentic representation of a once thriving community of canneries, boat yards and residences.
City of Richmond staff and dedicated volunteers work together to preserve and restore the shipyard and surrounding buildings as an active wooden boat centre and waterfront park. Tour the oldest shipyard buildings in British Columbia, and observe ongoing boat restoration projects experiencing a bygone time when fishing and boatbuilding were flourishing industries on the Fraser River.
Videos
Enjoy the videos below that explore Britannia Shipyards in different ways:
The Art of Britannia – Painting a History
In the video above, the art of Wan Li Zhang and Cathy Kluthe is used as a window to explore the history of Britannia's outdoor industrial site.
Silver Ann – Britannia’s Last Wooden Gillnetter
In the video above, the intersection of boat building traditions from diverse cultures is explored, which led to the creation of the gillnetter the Silver Ann in 1969, the last wooden boat to be built at Britannia.
Enjoy these other videos about Britannia Shipyards:
Britannia Shipyard - Main
Britannia Shipyard - Doris Forsyth's Office & Store
Providence - Flagship of the City of Richmond and Britannia Shipyards
Virtual Tours
Using Chrome, IE11+ or Firefox, explore the following buildings:
Visitor Centre
Shipyard
Chinese Bunkhouse
Murakami House
Seine Net Loft
Manager's House
Men's Bunkhouse
Point House
Murakami Family Videos
A Capture of Memories: The Murakami Family at Britannia: This short film explores the Japanese Canadian experience through the memories of the Murakami family at Britannia.
Obachan's Garden: Asayo Murakami, 103 years old, recalls life in Japan, her arrival in Canada as a "picture bride," her determination to marry a man of her choice, the bombing of Hiroshima and the forced relocation of her family during WWII.
Follow us on Social Media
@Britannia Shipyards
@BritShipyards
Free Mobile Tours
When the site buildings are closed, visitors who have downloaded the free City of Richmond app, can take self-guided mobile tours of 12 site buildings.
If the Locations Services function of your mobile device is turned on, your phone will alert you when you're in the vicinity of a building entryway. The information transmitted is full with stories, photos and films that can be browsed at leisure. These histories are also available through Britannia's 'Points of Interest' tab of the City of Richmond app.
To take 3D interactive tours of some of the exhibit buildings, see the links above.
Group Tours
We offer tours to suit a variety of groups. Please call or email us to discuss what options are available, at 604-238-8037 or britannia@richmond.ca
Facility Rentals
Suspended until further notice
To rent a space at Britannia, email britannia@richmond.ca to be added to the mailing list. When rental bookings resume, an email will be sent with new rental pricing and policies.
Photography
Visitors are welcome to take interior photos provided no equipment is set up and the pathways are not blocked for others. For photo shoots inside any of the buildings, e.g., weddings, family photos, head shots or group hobby photography, prior permission must be given. For more information, click on the link below.
Photography Guidelines 2020
Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Strategic Plan 2014-2018
The City has updated the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Strategic Plan within the context of and in support of the outcomes of the 2014 Council Term Goals, the 2022 Parks and Open Space Strategy and the 2007 Museum and Heritage Strategy and have developed a new mission, vision and six strategic focus areas.
The purpose of the strategic plan is to provide a framework for decision-making in the years ahead and to assist Richmond's rapid growth to make the City's unique historic sites even more valuable to residents and visitors.
The strategy explores Britannia Shipyards' past, current context and future as Britannia continues to contribute to making the City of Richmond the most appealing, livable and well-managed community in Canada.
Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Strategic Plan 2014-2018
Partners
Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site Society: www.britanniashipyard.ca
SS Master Society: www.ssmaster.org