Historic Walking Tour

View Tour of Historic Peachland in a larger map

Starting from the South of Town:

Historic Mural

The Peachland Historical Mural is painted on the retaining wall where a bedrock bump once extended into the lake. During the highway construction in 1937 dynamite blasting sent two boulders crashing through the roof of Walter's Packinghouse below. The packers were busy on the wharf so luckily no one was hurt. The mural artist was Peachland resident Robyn Lake; it was sponsored by the Peachland Rotary Club. It shows Hardy Falls, the Wharf, the Packinghouse, and downtown scenes of the past and present.

Old Baptist Church (Peachland Museum)

The unique 8-sided Peachland Baptist Church was constructed mainly by volunteers in 1910 and served as a place of worship until 1964. Over the years it has functioned as a temporary Municipal Hall, Parks and Recreation Office,

Fire Brigade Hall, The Edgewater Inn and Public Library. Since 1980 the building has housed the Peachland Museum. Hundreds of historical artifacts, photographs, newspapers and documents are on display. The museum offers a glimpse into the rich history of Peachland and its people.

Open Daily: 1:00pm - 5:00pm

July & August: 10:00am - 6:00pm

1.250.767.3441

Totem Pole

The renowned carver Oliver Jackson carved this totem pole around 1940. The pole stood in another Okanagan Valley town park for many years and fell into disrepair. A teacher from Peachland offered to bring the pole to its new home where it now stands with its new wings.

Heritage Park

This downtown park was once a busy wharf, cannery, and packinghouse. The harvests of peaches, pears, plums, apples, and apricots came down from the hillside orchards to be packed and shipped at Walters Limited Packinghouse. The building burnt down in 1979. A gazebo built by the Peachland Rotary Club now stands at one end of Heritage Park; at the south end is the totem pole.

The Cenotaph

Thirty-three young men waved goodbye to their families from the deck of the SS Sicamous as it steamed away carrying them to answer the 'call-to-arms' during World War One. Fifteen of Peachland's sons died on the battlefields of Europe. The Governor General of Canada, the Duke of Devonshire, opened the Peachland Fall Fair on October 9, 1919. His visit was a distinction to Peachland that had lost the largest number of men per capita of any municipality in Canada. The granite obelisk was erected in 1921 to honour those fallen youth. The names of those who died in later wars have since been added.

The Edgewater Inn

The Edgewater Inn was built in 1898. Years later, the fir tree in the front corner of the yard was carved into a totem pole for the renamed Totem Inn. It was here while enjoying a cold drink, or possibly two, on a hot summer day, that local storytellers first told talkes about Ogopogo's long ago origins.

The Peachland United Church

The Building was constructed in 1911 as a Methodist Church. It was the first church in Peachland to have a bell tower and the T. Eaton Co. donated the bell. It became the United Church in 1925. Church services have been held there since 1911 and the bell is still rung every Sunday.

The Little Schoolhouse

Peachland quickly outgrew the little one room schoolhouse on Brandon Lane. In 1908 students walked into their new school on Beach Avenue. The Peachland School still graces the waterfront. In 1949 it became Peachland Elementary, and later Peachland Primary. Its windows look out on the beaches and playing fields where many generations of Peachland kids skinned their knees, bruised their elbows, and learned to swim. It closed in June 2002. Former teachers and students came from afar to celebrate ninety years of education at this historic site.

Peachland Primary School

Peachland’s oldest heritage building built in 1898. It was originally a schoolhouse/church and in 1908 it became St. Margaret’s Angelican Church. It now serves as a great venue for community events and is ideal for private functions. Drop in for Sunday Tea, have dessert on the terrace or browse the art displays. Local art displays are held throughout the summer months.

1.250.575.8226