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
We offer a wide variety of programs, events and activities throughout the year at Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site. For additional information, open the page below:
Hours of Operation
Winter
Oct 1 - April 30: Monday - Sunday 12:00-5:00 pm (including holidays)
Summer
May 1 - Sept 30: Monday - Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (including holidays)
*Please note, the Seine Net Loft or Chinese Bunkhouse may be closed on occasion due to a private building rental.
Staff
Acting Site Supervisor: Tricia Buemann
Steveston Heritage Sites School Programs Coordinator: Kimberly Baker
Acting Visitor Services Associate: Anna Rienstra
Waterfront Coordinator: Geoff Bramhill
Recreation Leader and Volunteer Coordinator: Lucy Higgs-Lockie
Museum Coordinator: Gabrielle Sharp
Site Information 
Britannia Shipyards is an authentic representation of a once thriving community of canneries, boat yards, residences and stores.
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 as you experience a bygone time when fishing and boatbuilding were flourishing industries on the Fraser River.
Many of the buildings date back to 1885 and tell the stories of multi-ethnic residents and workers at the Britannia Cannery and Britannia Shipyards: Chinese, European, First Nations and Japanese. This collection of buildings has national value and was designated a National Historic Site in 1992 by the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board.
During Your Visit
During open hours, tour buildings that explore fascinating stories of working and living on the historic waterfront.
Walk through the interactive displays in the Murakami House and Murakami Boatworks that narrate the intriguing family history of Asayo and Otokichi Murakami. Tour four stilt houses and a Chinese bunkhouse that demonstrate living conditions from 1910-1930 with innovative audio and video exhibit displays. Visit the Shipyard building and discover the inner workings of a heritage boat repair facility. Visit the Seine Net Loft for a series of permanent exhibits that examine innovation and human ingenuity within our waterfront industries.
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 to your device is full of stories, photos and films that you can browse at your 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 our exhibit buildings, please see the links on our Programs and Events page.
Facility Rentals
We currently rent out the Chinese Bunkhouse and the Seine Net Loft for meetings and social events. For more information please click on the links below or call 604-238-8037.
Chinese Bunkhouse Rental Info 2020
Seine Net Loft Rental Info 2020
Photography
For photo shoots inside any of our buildings (weddings, family photos, head shots, group hobby photography), you must have prior permission. Visitors are welcome to take interior photos. For more information, please click on the link below:
Photography information
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 supports the outcomes of 2014 Council Term Goals, the 2022 Parks and Open Space Strategy and 2007 Museum and Heritage Strategy and 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 Heritage Shipyard Society www.britanniashipyard.ca
Steveston Folk Guild www.stevestonfolk.net
SS Master Society www.ssmaster.org
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