September 16th to November 18th

Travelling exhibit from the Chilliwack Museum and Archives

British Columbia’s earliest hop garden was planted in Victoria in 1862 to help supply the needs of local brewers. From there the industry expanded to communities in the Fraser Valley, where, by the 1940s, over 4,000 workers were employed to complete the harvest.

“Brewer’s Gold” interprets the origins, cultivation, and brewing techniques of hops as well as its many other uses throughout the centuries.

This exhibition organized and circulated by the Chilliwack Museum and Archives uses artifacts and photographs to explore the fascinating history of a vanished industry that was once a thriving economy in British Columbia. The exhibit received an Award of Merit from the Royal British Columbia Museum for its exhibition design and content.