Welcome!

The Cortes Museum & Archives is a community-led museum, offering year-round exhibitions and programs that explore the social, cultural and natural history of Cortes Island and the surrounding region. 

We invite visitors to reflect on this rich history, imagine past and future days, and celebrate this beautiful place we call home.

Admission is free with donations much appreciated.

Search our Online Archives, home to more than 4,000 digitized historical photos!

What's On

The Mother Tree
The Cortes Wild! partnership invites everyone to celebrate forest with us with The Mother Tree exhibition. Bring the whole family! The exhibit opened on Earth Day, 22 April 2023. Top photo...
Wayfinding: Stories of Maps and Place
Wayfinding: Stories of Maps & Place The exhibition opened on March 26 and will continue through December 2023. Wayfinding is about how we navigate and understand the world around us....

Misty Isles Historic Cruises

2023 Cortes Museum Cruises with Misty Isles Adventures All museum-sponsored cruises for 2023 are now booked. Please contact Misty Isles about other cruises they are providing. The waters around Cortes Island are famous for spectacular natural beauty, abundance of wildlife and significant maritime and cultural history.  From British and Spanish explorers, who charted this area...

News & Events

Vinyl w/Johnny Waffelz  – September 14
Vinyl - Johnny Waffelz: Art & Music in the Garden with Vinyl Records on the...
Insects Presentation  – September 6
Insects – presentation by Sean Nightingale. Wednesday, September 6, at 5:30 p.m., Wild Cortes, Linnaea...
Moonclaw Music  – September 7
Moonclaw Music in the Garden with Michael Keith & guests Paul Wolda and Greg Osoba....
Stephen Antle of Ho’okani – August 31
All are invited to a wonderful music event in the Museum's Heritage Garden: Stephen Antle...
Mike Desj in the Garden – August 24
Traditional Canadian and American Music with Mike Desj Museum's Heritage Garden Thursday, August 24, at...
Marnie’s Books 25th! – August 20
Help us Celebrate! Marnie’s Books 25th Anniversary 5 plus 20 Sunday, August 20 at 7:00...