Our Mission
Our mission is to engage residents, businesses, community organizations, government, and visitors in the preservation and celebration of and respect for Coquitlam’s vibrant and multicultural heritage and diverse communities.
Land Acknowledgement
Mackin House Museum and Coquitlam Heritage Society both operate on the traditional, unceded, and ancestral territory of Kwikwitlem First Nation, who continue to live upon and care for these lands, along with the waters surrounding it. These lands are also the traditional territory of the Tsleil-Waututh, Qaqayt, and Katzie First Nations. We encourage visitors to reflect upon the history of the land we occupy, dating all the way back to time immemorial.
About Mackin House Museum:
Mackin House Museum is centered around one of the oldest houses in Coquitlam - Mackin House, having been built in 1909 for the Sales Manager of Fraser Mills, Henry Mackin. Having stood for over a century, the Museum is a remnant of the historic French community of Maillardville, the largest French settlement in Western Canada, and of the influx of early immigration by Fraser Mills laborers.
Today, Mackin House Museum hosts exhibits, events, and tours dedicated to showcasing the multifaceted history and culture of the city of Coquitlam. Visitors can immerse themselves in the Edwardian-era building and the history of the associated Fraser Mills community, learn about underrepresented histories of early Chinese, Japanese, and South Asians in the area, and discover the subtle but compounding ways the city has changed so much of the course of just 100 years.
We welcome visitors five days a week, and provide educational school programming and private tour bookings. For more details about admissions & hours to Mackin House Museum, click here.
About Coquitlam Heritage Society (CHS):
Coquitlam Heritage Society (CHS) is the organization that runs Mackin House Museum. CHS started its operations around June 1993 in the lower level (basement) of Mackin House. Its initial objectives were to restore Mackin House and turn it into a heritage house museum. The renovations were completed in 1999 and CHS opened Mackin House Museum to the public.
Today, CHS offers numerous services to Coquitlam’s residents. In addition to operating Mackin House Museum, we provide tours of Fraser Mills Train Station and CP Rail 1970’s Caboose in Heritage Square. We also operate year-round as a Tourism Information Centre for the City of Coquitlam, maintain our archival collections, and collect oral histories preserving the lived experiences of residents of Coquitlam.
Caboose & Train Station
Originally built in 1910, this building has serves as one of the five stations on what is now known as the Westminster Subdivision of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Fraser Mills Station
This caboose was built in the 1970s from the Angus shops in Montreal. This car was the last one connected to the train and was used to accommodate the train crew.
CPR Caboose
Make A donation
Whether you love our exhibits, programmes, or our events, all of these labour-intensive, important activities can continue with your support. Your donations also keep the collections safe and well cared for. You can make a difference in preserving your community's heritage. Thank you!