Travelling exhibit on B.C.’s marvellous mushrooms visits Cowichan Valley Museum

A travelling exhibition created by the Royal BC Museum visits the Cowichan Valley Museum in Duncan from Jan. 20 to March 11, 2022.

The B.C.’s Marvellous Mushrooms exhibit explores the science and practical uses of mushrooms today, highlighting some of the most fascinating of the 3,400 known species in the province.

The exhibition encourages visitors to learn more about BC mushrooms and their versatility. It introduces a cross-section of different species – some familiar, some bizarre, some delicious and some deadly. Their lives are interwoven with every part of British Columbia ecosystems.

Mushrooms are not only a subject of scientific study but also a source of food, dyes, and medicine as well as objects of ceremony and beauty.

Featuring interpretive graphic panels, 3D-printed mushroom models and foraging equipment, the exhibition will facilitate visitors’ understanding of BC mushrooms and their many uses.

B.C.’s Marvellous Mushrooms was created in 2021 to accompany the Royal BC Museum’s popular new handbook, Mushrooms of British Columbia by Andy MacKinnon and Kem Luther, a comprehensive and practical guide suitable for the professional and amateur alike.

The Cowichan Valley Museum is open Thursdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 130 Canada Ave. Admission is by donation and all visitors must wear masks and provide proof of vaccination. Learn more at