Trip 140 - August of 2018

The Exploration Place Visit

Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

Location in Prince George: At the end of 20th Avenue, inside Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park.

Liked: Excellent use of small space to display numerous well-made exhibits and a few live creatures. Friendly staff. Free parking.

Of Note: Being a small place, it just might get crowded on a busy day.

Related Website: The Exploration Place official site.

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The Exploration Place is a modern building where, in an area which can be literally walked within a minute, the staff managed to display six unrelated exhibits, all done very well. It could easily take several hours to thoroughly explore everything, and then spend more time observing several snakes in a terrarium and a magpie in a cage. For children, there is a play area next to a couple of large dinosaurs. The staff are friendly, the price of admission is humane, and there is a gift shop too. 

1. We are on 20th Avenue in Prince George, driving towards Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park.

20th Avenue Prince George British Columbia Canada

2. Entering Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park. 20th Avenue becomes Becott Place after that.

Entrance to Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park Prince George BC Canada

3. Shortly after the park entrance sign, there is a free parking area for The Exploration Place, which is to the left.

Parking for The Exploration Place inside Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park in Prince George BC

4. The Exploration Place - 333 Becott Place, Prince George. Open 9-5, all year long, except Christmas and New Year's Day.

The Exploration Place Prince George British Columbia Canada

5. The lobby of The Exploration Place. To the left is the gift shop, behind the frog is the exhibit area entrance, and, to the left of that, is the reception desk. Adult tickets are $11, Family (up to six people) $25. More information is on the official website.

Lobby of The Exploration Place in Prince George British Columbia Canada
 

6. There are two doors behind the frog, as the exhibit area is organized in a small circle. We went through the door on the right, and this is the view once you enter.

Dinosaurs at The Exploration Place Prince George BC Canada

7. Lovely dinos.

The Exploration Place Prince George British Columbia

8. Children play area is behind the stairwell seen in photo #6.

Children Play Area in The Exploration Place Prince George British Columbia

9. Now we are on top of that stairwell, looking back.

Lower floor of The Exploration Place Prince George Canada

10. On the second floor, there are exhibits as follows: to the right is a display dedicated to the history of Prince George. You would learn, among other things, about how Prince George's wooden mascot, Mr. PG, came into existence. The pool table is quite old, and can be used by the visitors (the staff would provide the equipment upon request).

City of Prince George exhibit at The Exploration Place

11. A jail cell shows how small living accommodations in Prince George used to be for those who were incarcerated in the local penitentiary.

Jail Cell Exhibit at The Exploration Place Prince George BC

12. Overcrowding sometimes forced a second inmate to be placed in such a small cell (a second bunk bed would be placed above the already existing bed).

Inside the Jail Cell Exhibit at The Exploration Place in Prince George British Columbia Canada

13. Next is the exhibit of various sculptures made of planks - small rectangular pieces of wood. The amazing part is that no glue, nails, or any other materials are being used to hold the planks together - gravity and balancing are the only tools.

Planks Exhibit in The Exploration Place Prince George BC Canada

14. A bird and the Tower Bridge of London made of planks.

The Exploration Place Planks Art Exhibit in Prince George British Columbia Canada

15. Continuing the circle tour is an exhibition of the Lheidli T'enneh band's cultural artefacts. The city of Prince George is located on the traditional territory of the Lheidli T'enneh people.

Lheidli T'enneh Band Exhibit at The Exploration Place Prince George BC Canada

16. A very impressive Jesus Christ stained glass art is a part of this exhibit.

Lheidli T'enneh Exhibit The Exploration Place Prince George BC

17. Well done indeed.

Jesus Christ Stained Glass Art in The Exploration Place Prince George BC

18. Traditional aboriginal clothing and footwear on display.

Aboriginal Dress Exhibit The Exploration Place Prince George BC

19. Very nice.

Lheidli T'enneh Exhibit The Exploration Place Prince George British Columbia Canada

20. Approaching the other staircase on the second floor, there is a group of staffed animals waiting for you.

Stuffed Animals Display The Exploration Place Prince George BC Canada

21. A lynx. Likes to eat wild rabbits.

Lynx Display The Exploration Place Prince George British Columbia

22. A gray wolf. Likes to eat.

Gray Wolf Display in The Exploration Place Prince George BC Canada

23. Looking down the staircase. Along the wall on the right side there are several terrariums, as well as a cage with a magpie. See the bear barely visible in the bottom right corner?

Ground floor of The Exploration Place in Prince George British Columbia

24. Hello!

Bear Display The Exploration Place Prince George BC

25. Garter snakes. Very common in Canada. Non-venomous.

Garter Snakes in a Terrarium in The Exploration Place Prince George BC Canada

26. Ball python. From Africa. Non-venomous.

Ball Python in The Exploration Place Prince George British Columbia

27. And we are not done with bears. This guy apparently weighed 400 kilograms.

Large Bear Display in The Exploration Place Prince George BC

28. This utility box is located in the park, close to The Exploration Place. Cool design.

Utility Box in the Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park Prince George British Columbia Canada

We did not expect much before visiting The Exploration Place, and left very impressed with the quality and depth of the exhibits in such a small area. Highly recommended for children and adults alike.