Nanaimo Museum

This popular museum just off the Commercial St main drag showcases the region's heritage, from First Nations to colonial, maritime, sporting and beyond. Highlights of the eclectic collection include exhibits on the local sweet treat, Nanaimo bars, and bathtub racing – plus a carved golden beaver from an 1890s tugboat. Ask at the front desk about the museum's guided walking-tour program as well as summertime entry to the nearby Bastion, an 1853 wooden tower fortification.