Revelstoke Museum and Archives cheers on 'getting things done'

The access lift future spot, currently the men's washroom access on the second floor. There is a sign on the bathroom door telling folks about the upcoming project. — RMA’s new lift, providing access to the museum’s second floor records, meeting space and exhibits is in the final stretch. Accessible bathrooms on the second floor have increased the overall accessibility for visitors and staff. **Photo provided by Rachael Lewis with RMA.**

Between a growing online presence, new additions to digital and physical collections and a noticeable increase in admission revenue, Revelstoke Museum and Archives’ (RMA) 2023-2024 year boiled down to a year of momentum.

“We actually have been calling the last year our year of getting things done,” Cathy English, RMA curator told Revelstoke city council in RMA’s annual report and presentation.

RMA added 70 physical items to itstheir collection, including items discovered during various construction projects in and around Revelstoke. A chamber pot was found at the site of the former King Edward Hotel where Basecamp Resort’s new Basecamp Suites is now located. While building the new accessible lift for RMA, workers unearthed a large whiskey jug.

“Very curious as to why there’s a whisky jug in our backyard, but it’s now in our collection,” English said.

Through community donations, RMA continues to expand its digitized collection as well, adding 535 photographs with a majority accessible through UBC Okanagan Library’s BC Regional Digitized History portal. The donations brings RMA’s current photography collection to over 14,000 photos of Revelstoke’s historical communities, families and events.

“When I started working at the museum in 1983 we had fewer than 2,000 photographs.”

RMA’s specific section of the BC Regional Digitized History portal saw more than 25,500 visitors over the year, many accessing the digitized photography collection and Revelstoke’s school year books. Coupled with an increased audience accessing RMA’s YouTube channel for Brown Bag Lunch recordings and other talks, the local museum’s online presence continues to grow.

It isn’t all just about the past at RMA, with plans for a xeriscape irrigation conservation style garden in the works along the Boyle Avenue side of the museum. The garden will be used as a teaching tool to show locals and visitors how they can build their own xeriscape gardens to aid in water conservation. It’s also an addition to RMA’s current Heritage Garden, a project that celebrated its 20 year anniversary in 2024.

RMA’s goals to increase accessibility through audio recordings of signage in and around the museum saw great gains over the year, bringing local voices such as mayor Gary Sulz to record pieces.

“Most of the readers had a personal connection with the content they were reading,” English said.

RMA’s new lift, providing access to the museum’s second floor records, meeting space and exhibits is in the final stretch. Accessible bathrooms on the second floor have increased the overall accessibility for visitors and staff.

“This was truly a community project, and will be of great benefit for all of those who can use a little help getting to the second floor.”

While a majority of visitors to RMA were focused on the gift shop, a place where local products continue to be highlighted, visitor numbers for tours, talks, archive access and just general exploring of the museum saw some of the highest on record. Total admission revenue was nearly $26,000.

“That’s definitely our best year ever, and a significant increase over previous years.”

Council applauded the work RMA’s seven staff, 35 volunteers and current board members do for Revelstoke’s community.

“We’re very proud of you and your group for what they have accomplished, and continue to do,” Sulz commented.