Discover
The stories behind the Museum’s collections and exhibitions, and the work of our curators, scientists and staff.
Dogs in Antarctica: Tales from the Pack
Meet the canine characters who helped Antarctic heroes like Scott and Shackleton explore the icy continent. From Kid the Courageous to Osman the Great, the dogs who pulled sledges and provided companionship on the great Antarctic expeditions all had tales of their own.
Canterbury and World War One: Lives Lost, Lives Changed
Explore the stories of Cantabrians who fought in World War One and those who stayed behind. Stories, historic photographs and images of notable objects relate the experiences of Cantabrians during the War. 18,000 New Zealand lives were lost during World War One and the lives of those who survived were changed forever by the conflict.
This online exhibition is representative of Canterbury and World War One: Lives Lost Lives Changed, a temporary exhibition at Canterbury Museum from 30 November 2017 to 11 November 2018.
Blog Posts
Museum curators, scientists and technicians share stories from the Museum’s collections and their internationally-recognised research. Sign up here and we’ll regularly deliver a blog post to your inbox.
A Royal Birthday
Fri, 24 May 2019
Visitors to our Costume Gallery on Level One might notice a small pair of black shoes in one of the cases. Although they look fairly ordinary, the shoes once belonged to one of the world's most powerful women: Queen Victoria.
Stories
Short stories from the collection and behind the scenes at the Museum. For easy access to our short stories, follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or subscribe to our e newsletter.
A Warrior's Weapon
Thu, 13 Jun 2019
A Tongan war club like this apa’apai was more than merely a weapon, it was also a symbol of male rank and status.
An Ancient Connection
Tue, 11 Jun 2019
This Acheulean hand axe is one of the oldest human-made objects in the Museum and may have been made by an ancestral human species.
A Gardener's Best
Thu, 09 May 2019
Smock-frocks were the standard work-wear for rural workers in eighteenth-century Europe.
