Reviews of Hand of Man Museum (Museum)

Stephen Donnelly

This museum is a must see on the island! There is something to see for everyone here! It is awesome! We were a group of 4 friends and we all loved it! A big highlight of our trip!

Graham Anderson

Really cool and unexpectedly diverse! We went with our 10 and 7 year old boys, and spent over 2 hours checking all the different exhibits. The interactive iPad displays make it fun for both kids and adults, and the owner Jim stopped in for a Photo opp!

Shawn Drover

This place was amazing. Had no clue it was even there. Owner was on site and love to chat. Felt he was very HUMBLE. I think everyone should visit and see. This is so worth your time. Thanks joe and staff.

Rachele Mandrusiak

Absolutely incredible collection and place. The displays are diverse and thoughtfully put together. Can't wait to visit again. Thank you, Jim!

Megan MacMillan

Just had a wonderful visit. Enjoyed by all from ages 5 -73. Incredible collection both in sheer amount and variety. Visually beautiful, eclectic glimpses into so many different cultures as well as natural history. Self-guided iPad tour was simple, well-made and informative. A joyful and educational experience.

Johnny Rico

Great for kids and adults

Tegan J

Wow!! What an amazing hidden gem in the Cowichan Valley! If only the artifacts could talk…the stories they could tell would be incredible. Such an amazing collection of precious items from different times, cultures and adventures. The museum tells the story of not only it’s collectors but those of so many people and traditions from around the world. We were blessed to meet Jim Shockey, the man responsible for this amazing collection, and he took the time to answer our questions, relay some of his adventures and patiently respond to our 9-year-old’s inquiries. We will be frequent visitors to this museum!

Jason Beers

Jim Shockey has curated a fantastic museum. I loved it. Jim gave us a tour and that was also special.

Rheagan Thompson

Amazing to see how much hard work and passion went into pulling this place together. 5 stars - would absolutely recommend to anyone travelling to, from or through the area.

Steve Ouellette (The Watered Edge)

Had a chance to talk with Jim today. Very intelligent, genuine person who really cares about this planet and the people and animals on it. All of the artifacts were fantastic as well. Very well laid out. Great job Jim.

Corrine Thompson

A wonderful collection and display! I highly recommend going here, it is very well done and has an amazing variety of items from all around the world!

Brett Nixon

Amazing museum. You can get up close and personal with almost every animal you can imagine in full size. Done by donation and built for the community would 100% recommend to anyone!

Brendon Williams

Mind blowing place, never seen anything like it. An absolute must see for a tourist or resident.

Jayne Miller

World class museum and very interesting approach to use of an iPad to help navigate the articles and items in the rooms. Clever display of similar items in their spaces. Old school converted into this amazing cache of world finds. Would suggest all to go and see.

Canadian Hunt Bros

Yesterday I had the privilege of experiencing The Hand of Man Museum! The amount of historical treasures that are here are unbelievable. They even have dinosaurs!! I had the opportunity to chat with the Jim himself. He was humbly answering questions as people walked through the museums halls and rooms. What a genuine down to earth human. It was a great time for me and my family and we will be back for sure.

Brian Clair

Amazing experience for adults and kids of all ages. We even got to meet Jim Shockey! Will be back again and again

Tyler Moffat

Absolutely Remarkable the Artifacts, the Culture, the History that is Displayed in this Museum. I am a Hunter, but I was blown away by the Cultural Artifacts that are on display, from all parts of the world. It's not just a Hunting Display, it's an Educational Adventure, with Knowledge, Pictures, items from people who are connected to the land, from all corners of the Globe. You are given an IPAD, there are numbers located all throughout the Exhibit, punch in the number on the IPAD, and you are Presented with pictures and a Video of what you are looking at. A must see if you want a homegrown perspective on hunting communities and much more from around the world. For all ages. I would recommend allowing yourself at least 3 hours, to walk threw every room. And if your lucky Jim may even be there, I was very impressed, any questions we had he was more then willing to provide us with the knowledge he has obtained. 5 Star....

Sacha W

This is a HIDDEN GEM on Vancouver Island!! Our family was absolutely blown away by the Hand of Man Museum. It is one hundred percent worth the stop. You will not regret it! The staff were very friendly. Admission is by donation. The museum is well organized and there are virtual tours through a provided iPad. The owner, Jim Shockey, was also there. Hes's very friendly, easy to talk to and willing to answer any questions. If you don't know who he is, I would reccomend looking him up. Looks like he hasn't had quite the life. When leaving, my husband says "That was epic and it makes me want to travel more". We will be back again! Thank you!

Dian Verwey

Go, it is amazing.

David Yelligadu

Awesome place for a quick visit. We were passing by Duncan and decided to see what's around to do and stumbled upon this place. It's a privately owned museum by Jim Shockey. Entry is by donation. Upon entry you get an ipad to tour you around, which you use to input the numbers of the artifacts and get the backgrounds and even a little video to explain the artifacts. Lots of awesome stuffs all around the place. Definitely check this place out if you're in the area.

Becci Corder

Amazing! So much history and culture, and what a great GUI to have walk you through his adventure!

Taleah Glennon

So much to see and learn a definite recommended place.

David Scoates

Very educational, an amazing trip through one man's travels

Scott Menzies

Such a fantastic display of artifacts from around the world. Definitely a must see if you're in BC.

LashingMrX01

Absolutely brilliant museum! By donation when you leave, they give you a tablet when you enter and use on numbered exhibits with videos and information. Everything inside is unique and very interesting. There's a large item of for sale items that ain't just standard gift shop stuff. Will be recommending to my friends and going back first opportunity I get. Thank you for being amazing!

Trevor Nelson

Wow. Just wow.

Brendan Cook

Incredible collection. Even if you don't hunt you should experience this museum, very informative.

Terrence Kuiper

Imagine filling an old school wall to wall with treasures from around the world and then inviting the public to view the collection no matter how financially well off they are. This museum was an amazing suprise. Before going, all I knew was that they had some dinosaur bones. I was not disappointed, the fossils were amazing but I was blown away with how much other stuff was in here. The stuffed animals from all over the world was a great visual learning experience for my 4 year old (and me). The use of technology was also a welcome surprise. You are given a tablet that allows you to enter a number corresponding to an item, which gives you videos, photos and written information. The fact that this hidden gem is by donation is incredible. If you have the opportunity to come here, seize that opportunity. Pro tip: Allow yourself a minimum of 2.5 hours, but don't expect to see everything in that time.

myunreality2008

Super cool place totally recommend

Corina Sayers

Incredible amount of artifacts.Well organized. Videos were interesting. Staff very friendly. Only downside was that due to covid seating was not available otherwise might have spent longer.

Robert Chalupa

How a museum should be. There is a personal story behind each piece to be heard. Tablets provided have videos and extra content that helps deepen the experience. If you haven't gone you're missing out

Storm Clouds

Incredible place, so much natural history. So much to look at and you are given an iPad to help you along your tour. Brought my 90 year old dad who has loved Jim Shockey shows on TV. The best thing for him was that he got to meet Jim Shockey and talk with him for a bit. We are planning more visits with our grandkids.

Andrew Matheson

This is not a museum, it is a large personal collection of objects from a variety of cultures presented without meaning or context and with little attempt to educate. I had heard that the museum had a lovely preserved mastodon specimen, and that is certainly the case. The mastodon is in the old gymnasium of this retrofitted school, and that gymnasium is the highlight of the museum. It contains the Mastodon, a grey whale skeleton and a lovely reproduction of a giganotosaurus. All these items are numbered and the iPad you're given at entry provides a short mildly informative video. If you do want to see it, and you should, I would enter this one room and leave. What became very clear as I moved through the exhibits, is that this is a museum to one man's Ego. Pictures of Jim Shockey are presented with the same care and dignity as religious artifacts and mid-century art in a confusing and disjointed pile. Thousands of dead animal parts hang from any surface that could hold them, right along the side pictures of Jim Shockey holding guns. Pictures of Mr Shockey's wife (This is an assumption, I don't know their relationship) hang among the other trophies as what I can only describe as holiday photos of the couple play on big screen televisions. As you move further into the Shockey shrine you will be met with taxidermy Polar Bears, Lions and Bongos. There are dozens of animals skins carelessly hung amid a sprawling collection of hunting magazines, there is an intact Giraffe neck and head bones and not one word of where these came from. All the extinct animals, and the Grey Whale skeleton come complete with a backstory for how they were collected. We're left to speculate how did these threatened and endangered animals find themselves in this old school, and the only answer given are the framed photos of the smiling man with a gun. A museum typically picks what to display with a mind to educate, and animals parts, bones or taxidermy might be used to inform museum goers of the biological science, natural history or some other subject. Very few of the dead animals in this museum have any sort of writeup, any sort of labeling and any sort of educational material associated with it. There are at least two (maybe three) stuffed Bongos and in the video provided by Mr Shockey he speaks only of their rarity, and their difficulty in tracking. No educational content at all provided. And where did these threatened and rare animals come from? No idea, but here's a picture of Mr Schockey with a gun. Much of what makes up the content of the museum is old knife displays from hunting companies, fishing tackle, harpoons, wicker creels and arrows. The gift shop has plastic stegosauruses, and a small child's shirt that says only the words, "Live, Love, Laugh, Hunt" It's clear that this a a shrine to Mr Schockey's two loves, himself and hunting. I left feeling dirty. It is donation only, and I did donate, since I appreciated the mastodon and I appreciated the staff who were kind and generous. This might be a museum you want to visit, and if you are into hunting you might really like it, I recognize it is not for me. There are interesting cultural artifacts, I would have loved to learn about, but sadly that is not what this place is about. What this place is about is one man's eclectic purchases and his dead animals. Had this not been advertised as a natural history museum I am certain I wouldn't be giving it one star, but if you are not here to educate or curate you are not a museum; you are a large personal collection of hunting trophies and bafflingly Victorian shoes.

Johnny Park

Wasn’t really expecting much, but it turned out to be a fantastic experience. It was amazing to see and hear what Jim has done to collect all the items. Definitely worth another visit!!

Ryan Miller

Unexpectedly good.

Cetty Bermejo

Interesting with cool artifacts! Worth a visit! Caution is advised with young children as artifacts are easily within reach of tiny humans!

Maria Hansen

Truly amazing! My step-son really enjoyed it and we both took many photos! A must see if you are in the Cowichan Valley.

Darlene Huff

What an incredible and educational way to spend an afternoon. Thank you for sharing your passion.

Artëm Gayardo-Matrosov

Hands down the best museum in BC! There are thousands of interesting items on display, the variety is also great.

DAVID GUALDRON

Impressive collection of hunts. The place is amusing with a variety of items from all over the world. We had the chance to disk with 'the man', who is a wonderful person.

Jesse Warren

It was the highlight of my holiday, 100% worth visiting. I'll be back again, definitely spreading the good word of this place. Very impressive.

Jonas Breuhan

Worth the visit. Get the iPad and get lost in all the stories.

Cory Allen

Amazing collection of artifacts. Give yourself more than an hour to really appreciate the thousands of things on display here. The interactive iPads are a great feature and the kids were really amazed. Will definitely come back to go through again.

bret ried

Excellent private collection possibly better then most government funded museums,the collection opens up parts of the world very few get to see,got to speak with Jim who is extremely down to earth and humble and clearly cares about the countries and people in those countries he goes to.

stacey hilstad

Wow!!! This is an amazing place to take the family. We're even got to meet the man who started it all! Jim Shockey!! Wow!

Angela Rollins

Wow! I HATE museums and loved this! My husband, both kids, and I thoroughly enjoyed this gem. Highly recommend. SO interesting and the kids got iPads where they could search the exhibit numbers to learn more. A perfect stop between Victoria and Nanaimo.

Kryshelle Langford

Hidden gem

Gordon Allison

A hidden treasure

Jennifer Lynn

Enter by donation to wander around to look at 17,000 different artifacts. Includiea bones, photos, guitars, art, taxidermy items, books and more. You get an iPad to go around and listening to more information and details as you go through.

Silke Lecocq

I would not call this a museum. It is a very extensive, impressive personal collection. I would have liked to see more information, though I can imagine it's not easy to curate, given how vast the collection is. Personally, I was a bit put off by the amount of taxidermy and the pro hunting agenda. Hunting is definitely one aspect of conservation efforts, but I doubt that was the case for a lot of these animals, some of which are endangered. The dinosaur and mammoth skeletons were pretty neat (also the reason I wanted to visit), and the setting is very cozy. The staff was friendly, and left it up to us when we wanted to donate, before or after the visit. I was glad we waited until after, because if I had spent 20$ on this (as per a little suggestion sign next to the register), I would have felt ripped off. Even the BC Museum does not ask as much, and they have beautiful collections with loads of information.

Krystle Middle

Absolutely amazing. I could have spent the whole day there. So much to look at! Better than I could have ever imagined. And it just keeps getting better the further you go in. There is a fair bit of hunting theme present which people may want to consider if that's a huge trigger for them but I really loved it and appreciated learning about the family history. Reminded me of my grandparents sending me post cards all the time except I actually got to see some of the stuff they saw. Very awesome. And by donation! Crazy

Midnight Outlaws

Beautiful exhibit of history and art. Truly an honor to go and experience. Proposed to the love of my life under the Trex ! 10/10

Taylor Rutz

Best museum I've ever visited!

Mariah Pelz

This is actually a really fun find and just generally a great place, there's enough to keep you interested but not overwhelmed. Great if you have young kids or if your just looking for something fun to do. Absolutely worth a visit

ClearWay Law

I couldn’t believe how amazing this museum is. Perhaps controversial, but amazing.

Darlene Keppler

An incredible place to visit, great for all ages

brad cherniwchan

Aug 23, 2021 I HIGHLY recommend and will definitely be back! The Interactive iPads made it even more informative! All you have to do is enter the item # of an article that you’d like to learn more about and Mr Shockey himself provides narrative about the history of the item. Outstanding experience with the whole family and to finish it off we had the pleasure of meeting Mr Shockey outside! Regret not asking him to sign my sons cast but hopefully we get to bump into him next year on our annual visit! Thanks again for this world class exhibit!! A must see for all!! Also there is no admission fee but a donation box so please be generous to help keep educational places like this going.

Scott Johnson

Interesting collection of a variety of artifacts. Nicely put together. A great way to pass a few hours exploring interesting aspects of the world.

John-Marc, Vanda, Matthew Priest

What an amazing collection of natural history items. We are very lucky to have this gem in our community. My boy who is 5 loved it so much, we went twice in 2 days, and I didn't mind at all as there is so much to see.

Patricia Konechny

Very amazing experience, truly breath taking. If you haven't been you must go! Amazing skeletons of different animals much history from all over the world!

Max Armishaw

WOW this museum is absolutely amazing. there is just such an amazing story about every piece. I met Jim Shockey in his Museum and I picked his brain about his story's on some of his amazing pieces, particularly the Real Deal Mammoth skeleton. this is not a replica, this is an actual Mammoth plucked from permafrost in alaska... Wow... Amazing... Jim is such a chill guy, down to earth, super modest and open to questions! I love that Jim said he doesn't own any of these pieces, he is just the steward of these pieces for now. The Hand of Man Museum is like I said amazing, it is all by donation and you get so much knowledge and culture. there is just so much to see... you will definitely have to visit more than once to take it all in. I highly recommend this for children, seniors and really, people of all ages. the museum is wheelchair accessible and the dinosaur bones are definitely a must see, I was watching a couple guys put together a Tyrannosaurus Rex Skeleton during my visit. Again... wow... please donate generously. This man has been all over the place, and is sharing his life experiences with the world.

jason p

One of a kind place... truly need to see to appreciate

Meghan Robertson

Fascinating artifacts. Would be more interesting if there were more information available about them. Also quite a lot of taxidermy.

Kai Lamertz

I visited this "museum" on August 29 2021, coming away with a mixture of bewilderment, discomfort, and sadness. The lack of curatorial guidance or even descriptive information about many of the items on display was the museum's most obvious weakness, select tidbits on a loaner iPad notwithstanding. More troublesome, in the age of post-colonial reckoning and Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples the museum struck me as hopelessly out of place and far behind the times. The vast collection of artifacts appropriated from their cultural heritage sites, some as as recently as 2018, and the innumerable hunting trophies are testimony to the wealthy Western traveler who leverages their "superiority" to get what they want from locals wherever they go. While I impute no sinister intentions to the owners, I have never seen a better example of systemic colonial exploitation than in the Hand of Man Museum. Worse still are the crowds of visitors who make what seems to be a mere vanity project into a viable tourism undertaking with their indiscriminate curiosity for the exotic, the historic, and the rare. Sadly, these people will have learned very little about what they have seen in this place (see above) and are unlikely to ever see any of the animals on trophy display in the wild because they have been hunted to near extinction.

Carolyn Pigott

Such a wonderful and important gift to us, thank you Jim and family. It

chelsea chernobyl

Very unique layout for a museum. Reminiscent of a Victorian cabinet of curiosity. Definitely a place you could keep kids busy, and open conversations with them about a diverse range of topics. It’s nice that it’s by donation so people who can’t necessarily afford to go still can.

Mark Hainsworth

Amazing place to visit. Full of beautiful displays and exhibits.

Ari-Ella Playz

Awesome place. I highly recommend going. Could easily spend a couple hours at this place. My daughter loved it and so did I.

Carolyn Dawn “C.D.” Good

I was disappointed that you had to show picture ID to enter.

E. Rempel

It is a great museum with lots to see, and I would definitely go again! Though I wish there was more information about the culturally artifacts. Other than that it is a great place to visit if you are interested.

Mel B

One of the best museums I've ever gone to it's a must-see for sure so much to see you can't see it in 3 hours I have spend the whole day there

Aurora Robinson

Absolutely incredible collection! Honestly a true hidden gem and there is a lot to learn and see! The owner is a really interesting person. I could not love this place more! A+ experience! I'll be back because there is so much to see!

Steve Lucas

Amazing lifetime collection of one man and his experiences

Rupal Agarwal

Very intriguing and educational experience ????

Nina Zurita

Absolutely outstanding pieces. Wish there was a tour guide available but going quietly at our own pace was so relaxing. They provided an iPad with details one certain things which was really cool. For a museum on the island I definitely give it 5 stars. It's a must see

Jane

Very interesting place. Lots for kids and adults to see and explore.

Mr. November

Well what do you say? One of my best experiences at a museum. What a experience looking through the eyes of Jim's wonderful life. We spent an hour and a half there and easily could have doubled our time. To have Hand of Man in our backyard is a true treasure. We will be back to catch all of the wonderful things we missed. A must see in the Cowichan Valley. Outstanding!

pasco weder

It was my first time ever visiting the hand of man museum and a truly amazing experience. What an awesome and wonderful collection of hunting, conservation, and historical knowledge. Can’t wait to see how it continues to develop and grow. I will definitely by back!

Ian Cook

WOW is the best way to describe it...Jim is an amazing man with years of experience and knowledge...Kids loved it and we will go again.

moeses martinez

What a best way to take the fam and spend time learning about tribes, animals and more, also the souvenirs are very cool to buy and wear in your day off or whatever you want to. Cheers to the hand of man for the excellent attention they gave to my kids and guests who came with us!!

Dathek Phillips

This is an AMAZING place with a lot of cool artifacts, bones, and taxidermy from around the world. It is deceptively big. Great exhibits and video tour set up! HIGHLY recommend you bring your kids, the place is really well set up

Amanda Rude

Amazing

Heather Bekar

We just finished a tour of the museum, wow what an experience. We were completely blown away from the moment we walked in the door. What an amazing dedication to the outdoor life Jim, way to go!! We were extra lucky and as we were leaving got to say hello to Jim and Louise ☺️☺️

Keats

We visited from Ontario and it was amazing. Always so neat to see the history behind things. The amount of care and detail put into this place is breathtaking.

Michael Paget

Hidden gem. Amazing collection. Highly recommend.

Emmerson Konjolka

Beautiful items and displays. Everything flows so nicely together and there's so much to see. There's some outdated language in the displays but other than that it's amazing!

Jim Laursen

Wonderful collection, too much to see with only 1 visit. Need to come again.

Jason Culley

What an absolutely amazing sharing of probably the most adventurous and cultured life! Wow!! The mantra “Protect, Conserve, hunt” says it all! Our family of 5 sent over an hour in Awe. The amount.of artifacts and literature from around the world was too much to take in in multiple visits!! Thanks Jim, meeting you was an absolute pleasure. Thank you for sharing your life’s work with us.

Gwynn Hughes

Absolutely fabulous museum!!! So much to see and experience!! I went with my 2 grandkids, one 6 and one 9! They were fascinated by the animals preserved by taxidermy!! They loved the big cats, and the room of mostly animals from Australia, and the animals from the arctic!! The Honey badger was a huge hit!! The rocks and gems were amazing!! All for the price of a donation!! The gift shop was a HUGE hit with the kids!! Thank you for the awesome first-time experience!!

Bart Ludwig

Fascinating and eclectic collection of memorabilia from legendary hunter Jim Shockey

Bill Gillespie

What an stunning collection of art , dinosaur fossils , animal mamal taxidermy , gorgeous pictures and an absolutely beautiful collection of artifacts from all over the world . This place is a must see and is by donation when you leave so it's affordable for all families. I was very very impressed .

Daniel-André Delorme (Betadan)

Was so amazing, so much to take in.

Rachael Allen

While the collection itself is impressive, there is very little information unless you have the companion iPad to carry around (which when you're in a group, is rather difficult to share). It would be much more informative if there were plaques on items. Or instead of the endless stream of selfies on the display tv's, have more about where the items came from and how conservation and economy (as this is something that the owner is pushing) has changed in the region. As it stands now, it feels more like a private collection on display rather than the potentially informative museum it could be. Just an FYI for people : although the museum is free, they do push for a 'recommended' donation of $20 per adult.

Michael Dixon

It's Amazing how many different things that You can find in the area that You have been using for a school originally. This is one Man's collection that He has accumulated over a lifetime of travel and adventure ! Put aside that notion that the museum will be boring and it won't be exciting, it's not Your average museum. You will be encouraged to take Your time. Every person gets their own iPad to use as a guide for Your adventure, and believe Me, You'll be wanting to stay alot longer than You thought You'd be doing in the first place . An adventure, that You will never forget about .

Mike

Absolutely amazing. Whether you're a hunter or just curious about our natural world. There's so much to see. The taxidermy is amazing. There is a room to touch the firs of several amazing creatures. The collections of bugs, shells, fishing lures - the list goes on. Thank you Jim for sharing your collection with the public.

Richard Leeming

It's a must see

Svea Poulsen (Sveava)

Incredible museum! I was blown away from the moment I walked in the entrance! It's amazing to be able to see so many things from many different cultures from around the world in one place. You are given an iPad to carry with you as you tour the museum and some times have videos or explanations to what you're looking at! The entrance is by donation so everyone can have a chance to see this incredible space. Highly recommend a visit here and multiple times because there's no way you can see it all in one visit.

OHFORPEATSAKES

Blown away by the sheer amount of artifacts from around the glove. Very, very interesting and well done. Highly recommended!

Diana “Dee” Enns

Wow I have been there twice and was so amazing and interesting. ????????????

Tyson Sommerville

Had a great time lots to see. My favourite part was the library. Highly recommend. So much to see its probably worth 2 trips.

thomas chalupa

Hands down the best museum I've ever been to. Speechless.

scott kennedy

There is alot more than just HANDS in this museum.

Cheryl Kothlow

Absolutely amazing to have this museum right in our own Cowichan Valley. My 16 year old grandson thought it was great and my 3 year old granddaughter was mesmerized by the displays. Thank you Jim and Louise for sharing your lifelong adventures. Recommended for any age, and please plan to stay for an hour or so. We will be back!

John Ashley

Amazing time enjoyed the experience

Maksym Kepskyy

I think it is one of a kind and one the most amazing museums I have ever visited. Not only you can find there some rare pieces collected and brought to the museum by one person over many years from all over the world that are dated hundreds, thousands and millions years back, the museum has a great touch and and its own history as well. Definitelly recommend to visit this place if you haven't yet.

Jack Chan

(Translated) learned a lot (Original) 学到了很多

Mariah Currey

A fun and interesting collection of artifacts. However, it is less of a museum, as our group was expecting, and more of a personal collection that is on public display.

Rick Dwyer

This place was absolutely awesome

Raynold Tseng

Highly recommended

Kyle Morton

Amazing on so many levels. Just go.

Donald Paget

A very interesting and informative venue

Doug Troock

What a great museum. To think that this a private museum is amazing. I'll have to go back again. A great place to take kids.

Nadine T (audichick)

A VERY interesting place! So much to look at and learn about. If you want to check this place out definitely give yourself some ample time. Entry by donation. We went the first time with 3 hours and almost didn't get to see it all before we had to go, so we will be returning! You've gotta see this place atleast once!

000 Brodie 000

Was a great experience, would totally recommend for anyone. Set some time aside, cause there's lots to discover. Got to see the man himself. Jim Shockey's a great guy, super humble and willing to answer any questions. Totally going back. Oh and its all by donation too. Bring the family! Thanks again Jim!

Between The Cedars

Really interesting! So much more than we expected. Will visit again soon.

Lina A

I went to Hand of Man on a date with my boyfriend and I was left speechless and in awe of all the beautiful artifacts. So many interesting things laid out so thoughtfully throughout the museum. The displays really allows you to appreciate an array of cultures in one place. Highly recommend it.

Melanie Reich

Wow! What an amazing collection! We had a great time :)

Nonthapan Sammy

Awesomeness!!!!

Steiner

So much to see and learn about! This place will impress anyone that goes there. Such an incredible collection of artifacts, taxidermy, antiques & cultural pieces!

Green Fire

World-class Museum. Tons of things to

Bob Linde

Extremely educational and very well laid out.

Darren Hill Contracting

Had an amazing experience yesterday at the Museum! Couldn’t believe how much there is there from all around the world. My daughter loved the interactive iPad that is given to us and the beginning of the tour that helps explain certain items on display. I highly recommend going to check it out if you haven’t yet. You won’t regret it! I will be back! Wonderful time for all!

Jenna Mitchell

Eclectic little museum located on the edge of a beautiful ravine, we really enjoyed exploring the different rooms to see what's next! They give you an ipad when you arrive for a self guided tour and admission is by donation. The only reason that I am giving a 4 here is because there are. So. Many. Taxidermied. Animals. Like room after room stuffed with them. Some people may like them but it was a little unsettling after awhile, kind of like Norman Bates motel in Psycho

David Newton

My two year old son wants to go here all the time, it's so interesting and he loves looking at all the animals, especially the dinosaurs. We'll be back over and over again, there's so much to see.

Paul Ducharme

FANTASTIC - and met it's Founder!

Mel H

Wow! More than you think is going to be inside. So interesting and informative. iPads offer a unique guided experience.perfect for family and friends.

Luke Michael Burton

This is an awesome off the map spot for the whole family!

Hellmut Pedersen

Excellent, amazing collection of eclectic artifacts from around the world well worth the visit.

Yvonne Richards

Absolutely fabulous place to spend an afternoon! Such great variety of interesting artifacts and treasures! I could visit every day and find something new that I hadn't seen before. Highly recommend visiting whenever you're in the area.

Tarryn Coetzee

ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!! SO INCREDIBLE THAT THIS REVIEW DESERVES CAPS! Don't miss out! It's really worth it. Wow.

David audy

We visited today this incredible place, full of stories begging to be told and gorgeous artifacts that must have taken a lifetime to accumulate. We ran into the owner and I did not notice this until much later and I regretted not telling him how much my family really enjoyed his collection. I feel it's better than the Royal BC museum, because it has a certain welcoming warmth atmosphere, and just the right size for young kids. I personally enjoyed the dazzling rock collection, the wife prefered the animals, and the kids were all excited by the dinosaurs. As a constructive feedback, I would recommend adding even more displays outside, we really enjoyed those!

Trevor Inscho

ABSOLUTELY AMAZING ! Looking forward to going back again to view more updated materials via the kewl kiosk style ( by way of a tablet ) learning platform. Type in the display # on the tablet to learn more background nature of what you are viewing. Items collected from around the world, something for everyone's interest. MUST MAKE RETURN TRIPS. Added bonus to meet the man himself in person, Jim Shockey, exchanging a few kind words.

Bronwyn Willms

Definitely not a museum, it’s a personal collection. It is quite impressive but there isn’t a lot of information about the artifacts. Very cool so see so many different things but again, not a museum.

David Gluck

Pretty amazing gem in the area. Lots of diverse cultural artifacts and its a great place to take the kids. Lots of taxidermy and skeletons. Feels as good as alot of larger natural history museums. Kind of blows my mind its all from one mans collection.

Junya Wu

This amazing museum totally surprised us! It’s definitely worth your time and donations! We will come back again with more friends for sure!

Teresa McDonald

Really liked all the things in the Museum, lots of things to see. They say by donation but the post a recommended amount. ( $20 per adult) lots of free parking. My only issue was when I found out that the owner of all these cool things is a hunter and the animals are on display. Ruined the experience for us.

Scott Harrison

Great way to spend New Years day with the family, me and my son are avid hunters and enjoyed seeing animals from all over the world, wife is not a hunter but she also enjoyed the displays and collection. Nice work!

Angela Seguin

Amazing hidden gem that more people definitely need to go to. Entry is by donation! The collection is one local man's treasures from his adventures all over the world. So many different rooms to explore and so much to learn! Great place to take kids.

Chad H

Amazing

Emily MacDonald

Amazing place! What a worldwide collection of animals and artifacts.

Chelsea Chelsea

A very interesting and unique museum. Admission was by donation. We were given a iPad to take around the museum to get information about all of the items we saw.

Michael and Yvonne Moisson

Fantastic world class private collection. We will be back.

Kate Durant

Amazing will be back

raineygirl0516

This was one of the most amazing places I have taken my kids! There was something here for everybody, bones for the boy, rocks for the girl, fishing and hunting artefacts for the husband. Everything is so well laid out and organized. Being able to do the self guided tours with the iPad was nice.

Nerissa Sullivan

This was our 2nd time visiting the Hand Of Man Museum, we love it. We got the incredible opportunity today to meet Jim. It was so special to hear him speak about the museum, hunting, conservation and how passionate he is about having the ability to share this wonderful place with the community. We absolutely loved it and highly recommend checking it out. We will be back!

Stuart Morse

Hidden gem of artifacts and animals from all over the world.

Caroline Cunningham

Incredible museum. Very individual. Lots to see, well presented with minimal amount to read as there are videos on I pads to explain most info.

Martin Gale

Jim has done an awesome job displaying culturaly significant items from around the world. He has a passion to educate people and share his experiences. I would highly recommend a stop at the museum you definitely will not be disappointed.

Taylor Norman

Such a FASCINATING place! Definitely can spend a couple hours there. Loved everything about it!

Julian

An amazing collection and display of natural history. No other museum will let you get this close to everything. Just fantastic!

Jon Kehler

Wow.. this place is incredible. Definitely a hidden jem to tell your friends about.

Andrea Hughes

What an amazing collection- highly recommended

paul Reynolds

Amazing place, will need a few trips to really take it all in!

Claire Boulton

Remarkable collection, how lucky we are to have it located here in our local valley. Everyone would find this interesting, such an eclectic mix of artifacts and history. A legacy of a life well lived!! thank you, Jim Shockey

Ray Franks

Visited last summer, wife was questioned are you a hunter when booking, thought odd question. This museum is more a personal collection, a testament of the owners world travels. That said many of the items /artifacts belong with their original owners or in a public museum. The massive amount of mounted wild animals deserve to have lived out their lives in the wild, maybe a full life like the owner has had, when you enter the room full of the large animals you'll will shocked. Hunting for meat to feed your family is one thing , but trophy hunting for money is completely different. In the display is a signed copy of Donald Trump Jr book addressed to the owner , I assume a client who paid to kill something , making it clear to me that this type of client financed this collection. The wealthy travelling the world to kill for sport and trophies. I personally believe there is a greater pay off to a greater number of people thru eco tourism , than a single guide with one client in search of a trophy. I would rather see animals alive than stuffed.

Peter Fetchko

Oh my god! Took my 2 1/2 yr old grand son, and all I heard for 40 minutes is Wow Wow a T rex? Yup, we are planning to take many other family members there. I would rather go there than the Victoria museum. And in Maple Bay too. Totally blown away. Schedule at least 2 hours to view most of it. You will return, guaranteed.

RileyOnSticks

Was very interesting and I learned alot there would recommend.

Shelly Fri

Very well done and very interesting for all ages

Kevin Harbottle

What a great museum! An incredible amount of memorabilia. Unfortunately, we came about an hour before close. We got to see everything, but we could have easily spent another hour admiring the collections. But that definitely guarantees another visit. We were fortunate enough to meet the man himself. Jim is such a personable, genuine and incredibly knowledgeable man. It was a pleasure to chat with him. The Hand of Man Museum is definitely a hidden gem.

Rick Joe

What an amazing place. So worth it to stop by. Entrance by donation. Can come back 10 times and still see new things you missed. Thank you for having thus place open to the public

Sara Hamilton

Amazing place to visit for kids and adults. Lots to see. The place is much much bigger than expected with every inch filled with history and culture. One of a kind!

Darlene Tychansky

I've never seen so many unique animals and artifacts

Janet Parrett

Awesome and we'll worth the drive ????

# Quinsley

I was absolutely blown away by the shear size of the collection it's absolutely fascinating and incredible to see that one person can do so much and you can see so many things that are not only incredible but also unbelievably rare. We were also incredibly fortunate and lucky to have met the owner of the collection and the museum he was very nice and knowledgeable and it was incredibly interesting to hear some of the stories first hand. Since the admission is free it's incredible to see what overall is there and overall I would definitely recommend this place for everyone there is so much to see and do and there's so much to learn I will come back and visit again definitely

Eddie Ware

One of the coolest, most interesting places I've ever visited! We walked through twice just because we could and we even got the pleasure of meeting the man, Jim Shockey himself! Can't wait to come back and see what we may have missed this visit!

Laura Dowell

This is a hidden gem. A fantastic collection of interest to all ages. Thank you James Shockey for sharing your travel treasures.

clancypantsy

An amazing collection of Jim's adventures from all across the world. We were fortunate enough to meet Jim while visiting the museum and he was open to share the stories from these trips. His passion for conservation is refreshing given the current political pressure on the hunting community. His lifelong dedication to conservation and historical preservation is prevalent in this museum and as a fellow hunter and conservationist, I commend him on his support. - a fellow conservationist and game warden

Kevin Griessel

Amazing museum, has something of interest for everyone, a must see for anyone interested in human and natural history. Antiques, artifacts, and an amazing collection of animals from around the world that must be seen in person to truly appreciate. Meeting Jim and having the chance to personally ask questions and hear speak about the conservation of animals and wild places both in North america and abroad were a huge bonus. All put together at Jims expense and entrance by donation so its very accessible to anyone and great place to bring your family. Thanks for putting this space together Jim, will definetly be back each time we are in Duncan!

Linda Onassis

Absolutely fabulous! Even my 3 year old grandson couldn't control his excitement. The Taxidermy impeccable and a true plethora of wonders to explore every where we looked.Thank you.

Teri Todd

What a gem! Full of interesting artifacts. Visited with my two granddaughters and they (and I) were fully captivated. All by donations and an IPAD is supplied with the names and facts about some of the exhibits. Don’t miss this museum

Jas Singh

Amazing museum that was entertaining and educational. A must see for all ages when in the area.

Chelsea Dunaway

This is not a museum, it is a personal collection. The main takeaway and message the collection promotes; is that gun advocacy, hunting and egotism are all valuable and good as long as you can afford to pay for it. Cultural pieces of value left in a water fountain, stolen cultures with zero collections control or design to make the pieces actually survive. Hand of Man is the most accurate description of this collection, but since when has the hand of another white man in history been a good thing?

Matthew Winchester

A MUST SEE PLACE ON THE ISLAND! This place is amazing it's has everything every has but all at once and stuffed inside of a middle school.I have never had my mind blown at the random artifacts this guy has. Whales,Cave Bears,Wooly Rinos a baby Wooly Mammoth! Fish and sea shells from another World. Rocks and minerals Dinosaurs and Rarities from around the World And some of it is for sale? Something for Everyone for someone from anywhere.

Colleen Vezina

This was an amazing experience. So much to see and so much to learn. Thank you Mr. Shockey for sharing your experiences and making this available for the public. I will most definitely be back along with friends and relatives

Kristine Harvey

Such a wonderful afternoon seeing all the artifacts from Jim Shockey's life and travels, plus so much more. Truly a remarkable museum right here in Duncan. Locals are very fortunate have this exhibit here and should make sure they take any visiting friends and family to see it. We also were able to soeak briefly with Jim and were able to express our appreciation.

Clara Hofsink

Worthwhile visit for anyone living here or traveling to Duncan BC. So much interesting items and animals etc displayed beautifully from all over the world.

Keith Brown

Amazing displays. Jim Shockey greeted us at the front door. It was a great representation of conservation, and wildlife.

Tyler

We always bring our friends and family here when they are visiting from out of town. The exhibits are incredible. Jim, the owner, is often there as well to greet you and answer any questions you may have. A must see for your next trip north of Victoria in Vancouver Island.

Linda Latter

Very impressive collection! Enjoyed our time there together with family. Made a memory!

Sardara Dhuga

A must see for anyone who has passion for the outdoors, above and beyond just that of hunting. Had the pleasure of meeting the man himself. Absolute honor to be able to chat with Jim. Highly recommend

Kerwin mandrusiak

You will never see it all. Keep coming back!

winnie liang

We never have enough time for this museum. Too much things yo see and learn. Thank you do much.

Brad Wigard

We had such a great time at the Hand of Man Museum! We had company in town and decided to be tourists for the day and the museum is a must especially if you have kids! I highly recommend going and we even met Jim on the way out!

Liz Benham

One the most incredible museums.This is a MUST to visit.

Steven Faryna

Wow! The wife and I have driven by many times on our way to the Lion Rampant and this Saturday made the wise decision to stop in. This place has something to interest everyone. A massive collection of cultural items and animals from around the world. I particularly liked the wide variety of flower beadwork . Jim and co have created something special here. I grew up in Drumheller and the Royal Tyrell with all its funding and prestige has nothing on this place. This ones right up there with the Torrington museum ; )

Lauren

100x better than any museum you will find on the island. Everything you could want to see is in here! It's by donation and isn't busy. I've been twice and both time there were only a couple people looking around. Awesome place to check out

Linda Morin

We have watched Jim, his wife, Dad, Eva and their adventures through the years on Jim's productions. Going to the Hand of Man was a top priority for us. It was so much more than we imagined, even our 5 year old grandson was kept busy seeing so much and so many types of displays. Meeting Jim was icing on the cake. Thank you and your family for sharing your passion about the story of mankind through the ages, across the continents with us.

Ray Hamer

This is a truly amazing venue....so much to see and so much to learn....kids will be astonished by all the exhibits. Allow a few hours to try to see it all. We are truly fortunate to have a facility like the Hand of Man Museum in Duncan. You really owe it to yourself to come and enjoy this wonderful experience.

Chris Bush

Yup. Absolutely not something you'd expect to find in Maple Bay.

Catherine Peden

I accidentally discovered the Hand of Man Museum right here on Google Maps while planning a family vacation to Vancouver Island. I ended up visiting the museum with my kids, ages 5 and 14, because I figured it was a place they would both enjoy. Boy, was I right!! We were all absolutely amazed by all of the wonderful treasures that are displayed so meticulously. Many things I've never seen before or even knew existed. It impressed my too-cool-for-anything teenager, a true miracle. We really enjoyed learning about the collections using the iPad that the museum provided, definitely preferable to the usual museum practice of using wall-mounted info boards and tiny cards placed next to items I also had the pleasure of meeting Jim Shockey himself during our visit which was pretty cool! An incredible place indeed. Thank you for sharing your amazing collection with us all, Jim!

William William

This place makes other museums seem boring by comparison. Tons of facinating items and exhibits and the virtual tour videos provide so much interesting context and lots of detailed facts to make it even more fun!

A Clever Username

So much to see here. Almost impossible to see it all in one go. So many interesting, and random items that have obviously been collected from a lifetime of travel and outdoors activity. For sure worth a little trip to the pretty village of Maple Bay. It's different, in a great way.

Peter Madden

Jim's the man! We were looking for something to do last weekend and we were referred to this Museum. WOW! I guess my expectations were low given the location (the beautiful and underrated Maple Bay) cost (by donation) and building (an old school). Needless to say, I was blown away. Hand of Man sits in that unique intersection of eclectic, amazing and odd - in a good way. The loosely curated collection of artifacts, taxidermy, art and just other 'stuff' makes for one part museum and one part treasure hunt. The space is anything but your typical museum in that the collection is organized, but barely - which is part of what makes it so much fun. Lots of curious items to see, some to touch - a few to smell. Only a handful are explained which certainly leaves a lot to the imagination. There are (no charge to borrow) iPads to help you understand what some of the items are but not a lot of the collection is numbered or referenced. This is a work in progress but that doesn't diminish its entertainment or educational value. Being unfamiliar with Jim's history / legacy (yes I must have lived a sheltered life) and coming into his world blind, I have to say I am better off for the experience. For me, this is the start of a new appreciate of his point of view and Jim's ability to help educate and spark curiosity in all of us. - VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Logistics: This is short trip 30min from Nanaimo. Parking was ample enough and no-charge. Admission is by donation - so accessible if you're getting by on any assistance or fixed income. But if you can afford it - don't be a cheapskate, pay the $20. Better yet, come back often, preferably with a friend - or five. If you are looking for the mother of all indoor scavenger hunts - look no further. I spend 3 hours and just scratched the surface, so I will be back next time I am on the Island. One last thing is Jim is at the Museum all the time! Great guy to talk with. I can't fathom all the stories still in his head waiting to get out. Get out, head over, enjoy.

Joe Godard

I cant believe that that Museum exists. There is more information, exhibition and entertainment in that small school building than almost any other attraction in BC. It is done so well, It's fun and informative and I guarantee there is something there that you have never seen. Just freaking awesome!!

Ellenore Kershaw

Absolutely fantastic. A must see !!

Jacob Vandort

An amazing experience, mindblowing collection of artifacts and specimens from around the globe. A must see

Jennifer Kurucz

We absolutely loved this museum. My kids 4/7 were fully engaged the entire time. There is so much to see. We will be back again as I know we couldn’t possibly have seen it all!

Alana McLean

I can’t begin to explain how happy I am to have visited this museum. The whole experience was so refreshing, especially with not being able to travel internationally for the last 1.5 years. The entry fee is by donation, which I thought to be extremely thoughtful and inclusive. It was almost like travelling across the globe and throughout the ages in the span of a couple hours. The wonder and amazement begin as I walked through the first door, into a long corridor where the walls were plastered with beautifully preserved sea creatures on one side and vintage portrait paintings on the other, and didn’t let up even at the time of leaving. ???? I would wholeheartedly recommend visiting the Hand of Man museum to anyone looking to see a lot of amazing artifacts from all over the world, beautiful art pieces, fossils and many more brilliant pieces. If you’re looking to learn about our human and animal ancestors, this is the place for you!

Leslie Simpson

Crazy personal collection from around the world. Don't miss seeing it.

Effie S

There are some interesting things in this collection but I felt quite uncomfortable here. Every display appears to be the classic rich wyt guy bragging about his wealth and displaying all of his trophies and cultural artifacts (looted?) that really should be in museums of those cultures. It is more about trophy hunting propaganda rather than celebrating biodiversity. There was a poster in one room that slammed African countries that didn't allow hunting as if those countries were evil and didn't care about wildlife protection which I found distasteful. Finally, as it turns out the donation is mandatory. I get that it costs money to run a museum but you are located in Duncan of all places. How about some wealth redistribution to the adjacent nation or greater community?

Steve Lenchuck

Best museum ever. Highly recommend.

Nick McMaster

This place is amazing! Thousands of artifacts, taxidermy, art and books . A must see for any wildlife enthusiast or history buff. I will be back often.

Heather Leslie

There were so many interesting items!!! I would definitely go again. It’s a place you’ll tell your friends about. The owner was there and he briefly talk to us and answered our questions, which was very cool. It was a great place to wander through, everything was well displayed, and the background music was good too.

Eyda Zuñiga

(Translated) Very complete and interesting (Original) Muy completo e interesante

Cody S

Really cool place, worth the trip.

Loretta Petersen

Very interesting place. So much to see would go again

Charlotte

Excellent museum for the whole family. Grandad, Granny, mum, dad and grand kids all had fun. Educational and interesting. Gift shop needs more logo'd knick knacks! I would have bought a fridge magnet etc! :) Thank you

triplem36

Excellent experience with all my family! Great exhibits and got to meet and greet with Jim Shockey. Excellent Time!!!!

Robert Filuk

Video guide made so much more to touring the exhibit

Mishayla Vandenheuvel

This place was awesome. It's a diamond in a quiet little area. So organized and well kept. Super clean and everything was so meticulously placed to perfection. We met the man who's collection it is and he was very nice... Very impressive. I highly recommend this place for families and really anyone interested in outdoors, animals and history. It works through donation so anytime g you give at the door gets you in but I highly recommend giving more than suggested. We need to keep this place open and alive for future generations. We will go again as there is way more than can be seen in one shot.

Ryan Kornitsky

This place is one of the best museums I’ve been to. The amount of items on display was almost overwhelming.

Curtis Ames

This is an incredible collection, with more range than I could have imagine. Definitely worth the visit.

Wren Giles

Fabulous collection and stories to each piece.

Kenneth Harquail

This was one of the most impressive displays that I have seen. You can feel the stories unfold as you go throughout the displays. Meeting the man behind the hand was the icing on the cake. He is so informative and willing to share his experiences. We'll done to all involved. This is a must see.

Britteny Reid

Absolutely incredible. This place is more than just taxidermy. The cultural aspect and artifacts are simply beautiful. Hand of Man is such an intimate experience!

Courtney Pattison

Best museum I've ever seen!

Tyler Monnington

Absolutely Incredible collection of everything you can think of

Marcus Diehl

The Hand of Man Museum was great! This was my second time going. The last time being 2019. A ton of new exhibits have been added. Can easily spend hours in there checking everything out. The Natural History is second to none. There really is something for everyone. Kids and Adults alike can enjoy it. The Staff were friendly and extremely helpful. Would absolutely recommend you attend!

kaila christie

Hand of man museum is definitely a must see on Vancouver island!!

Bonnie Mcmillan

Wonderful

D Walsh

Hidden gem on Vancouver island.walking into the doors of the old Maple bay elementary school I didn't know what to expect . the private collection of Jim Shockey is truely truly amazing. I highly recommend people to come see the mesuem . staff were very friendly.

Sandra Brain

This museum is a gem ... like going back to school, of the world ... each room (aka classroom) will blow your mind ... we had a short visit due to family events, but next time I am in the Duncan / Maple Bay area I will stop in ... mind blowing exhibit ... great gift store too, where we got natural stone bracelets ... when a museum doesn't charge admission and is by donation only, they want you to return .. we will !

Ross McArthur

Great place

Greg McBrine

Great place to go very informative and interesting

BrandeeandPhilip Peart

By far the most amazing Museum experience available to the public. Hands down this place out does the Royal BC Museum. There's far more interesting things to see, artifacts and knowledge available. Jim's collection it's mind-blowing. I highly recommend anybody even slightly interested in any form of nature or history go and check this place out. It is worth travelling for!!!!!!

Norma Vennesland

Amazing!

Buddenhagen Jeremy

Very cool and unexpected. Lots of cool things to see, maybe a bit low on the curating, but once you hear the story it is hard not to appreciate the amazing life of this guy.

Randy Single

One of the best museum we have ever visited. You can see it in an hour and half but you could also spend all day there and never see everything.

Trista Vlaanderen

Absolutely amazing, so much to see and learn. We have gone a few times now! However, I do wish there was more information/write ups on some of the artifacts!

Tom Waddington

An absolutely amazing collection. Definitely worth the trip from wherever you’re coming. Allow for an hour at the very least.

Jon Rempel

Lots of interesting and awesome things as a hunter it was amazing to see and learn about all the things in the museum.

Betty Lou Riel

We are lucky to have such a treasure in our little neighbourhood. This museum is a world class destination. Educational and fascinating. The sheer size of the collections is staggering.

Jon Lovell

Was a fantastic place. A must see.

Sam Duha

Pretty amazing collection. iPads were useful. Clean. Polite staff. Definitely recommend.

Deb Bates

What a wonderful museum in our community of Maple Bay! We truly enjoyed exploring each and every room and learning about the artifacts. The IPad and numbered exhibits really enhance the experience, a nice touch for sure. Meeting the owner Jim Shockey was definitely a highlight, he was gracious and took the time to share some of his life experiences with us. We definitely plan to return and will bring our family along for the next visit. Thanks again for a memorable experience, we highly recommend checking out the Hand of Man Museum, you will walk out feeling good about the time you spent here and that makes for a great day! :)

bundy727

One of the most amazing museums I've ever visited.Very professionallly set up.Had to fly out so was pressed for time but will definitely visit again and spend more time.Nice work Jim !! ❤

John Vitera

Absolutely amazing!!! Wish I could give it 10 stars!!! A culture, history, animal museum!!! Most amazing collection I have ever seen! Been to a lot of museums but this is my new favorite!!!

Deb Moloney

This place is amazing, you truly have to check it out!!!

Bob Cleroux

Excellent

Steve Harvey

Great exhibits, we had no idea it would be that interesting. We spent an hour and a half and it was not enough time. You could go once a week and find something new each time. You won't be disappointed . .

Mike Hale

The best place that we visited this summer. Many amazing items to see.

Nicole Cross

Amazing!! Check it out. The entire family loved it ????

Natalie Overholt

This place was unreal. Best museum I've been to. The collections are unreal and we got to meet Jim. Highly recommend stop if your in the area

Misha Mikolas

Such an amazing experience! A beautiful display of human history, and the amazing animals this world has to offer. Everyone needs to see this collection! I would give it 10 stars if I could

Stefan Hawes

Huge collection of all type of art, natural history pieces and artifacts. Met Jim himself, he was very nice and personable. Looking forwards to coming back again.

Shelby Davies

Absolutely amazing. A truly amazing exhibit.

Larry Offley

Actually was amazing. I wasn't expecting much, man did I change my minded once I got inside. The displays are awesome.

coldredneck

Incredible place. So much to look at. Thank you for sharing Jim.

Tatyana Lapshina

Great place to visit, awesome experience. Really fascinating collection.

Michael Desjarlais

An amazing place to visit with any age group. Had lots of fun and will be back over and over again

Jorden VanCamp

A bit of something for every one here, might even get to meet a Canadian Icon, Jim Shockey

Courtney Dendy

This is a MUST see !! One of the most incredible museums/experiences I've had the pleasure of enjoying! Thank you so much Jim !!

Jordanna M

There is just so much here! Our kids (3 and 18 months) were so entertained the whole visit. The culture, and artifacts are breathtaking and to be able to hear the backstory of one of the display items from Mr Shockey himself is a memory we will always remember! If you’re on Vancouver Island put this stop on your to do list

Nicole Thomas

Absolutely amazing! Words cannot describe how incredible the experience really is. My husband and I have been there twice now and will definitely go again!!

Greg Rachwalski

An amazing, and extensive, collection of artifacts from around the world! We were blown away by some of the artifacts we saw. The layout of the museum is very well done, and having the i-pad to read more information about an item, made it even more interesting. Hand of Man Museum is truly a hidden gem in the Cowichan Valley, and we highly recommended it.

Leroy Van

This place is unbelievably awesome! What a variety of 'stuff' and great displays. Highly recommended.

D L

Really cool

Nic Veness

My Wife and I Visited The Hand of Man Museum Oct 27, 2021. I am telling you it is AMAZING! Read some of these reviews for details, I just want to say The Shockey Family has put together a world class Museum second to none that I know of. We went to the B.C Museum a day later and it bored me, nothing has changed there in 20 years. The Hand of Man Museum has beautiful collections of artifacts, culture and wildlife mounts from all over the world. Everything wonderfully explained on the interactive I-pads handed out to each group. Thank you, be sure to fit this into your holiday adventure or weekend get away.

Guido Danger

amazing, we were blown away great hidden treasure!!!

Lana Moffat

Jim Shockey is a well known name in our home so naturally going to visit his INCREDIBLE lifetime collection of art, culture, and taxidermy was at the top of our list of things to do while visiting the island. The space is deceiving as it is much bigger than it looks... the items are displayed in a way that captures your attention and really allows you to see the incredible detail and time that went into curating this museum. The knowledge and passion that Jim put into this museum is amazing!! On arrival you are given an iPad to interactively guide your tour with pictures, comments, or videos; many of the artifacts are numbered and when you enter that number you get the info you're looking for! The highlight of it all though... meeting the man himself! We definitely need to go back as there is no way you can take it all in in just one visit... thank you Jim Shockey and family for this incredible exhibit of cultural diversity and a glimpse into the world that many of us will never see.

Kailey Jones

I loved this museum. The family who collected these pieces must have such amazing stories to tell! I got a cute little beaded bison made in bison bone. Its by donation, and there's something to feast your eyes on in every corner.

Jerica Willison

This place is 100% worth checking out. My sister came here a couple of months ago and just had to show me how cool it was! The museum can be a little overwhelming at first but only in the sense that there is just so many (amazing) things to look at. I am looking forward to coming back here in the future with other friends and family!

Brad Rayner

An amazing display of exhibits from around the world. The life sized animal displays are first class. Be sure to include this museum in your travel plans. Lots to see and absorb!

Mouse 2242

This place caught me off guard! Walking in threw that huge door really takes you for an experience! Everything was very well done and the service was really sweet! I especially love the number you place around so we could look up what kind of animal we were looking at! My nephew loves his dinosaur tooth and his meteorite rock! I cant wait to bring my son there and show him all the amazing still that there is to explore!

Bjorn Hermannes

I was excited heading into this "Museum". As soon as you enter you find the place jam packed with stuff from all over but as you get deeper into the museum it comes obvious these are just someones souvenirs and taxidermy hunting trophies. Quite disappointing

Lou Renyard

This is a must see Museum, the stories fill every room.

Todd Forsbloom

You will not be disappointed!!! :) .

Anne Marie Vanstone

Very eclectic mix of interesting items. I would have appreciated more information on items not numbered

Daniel Hiltz

More than just another Natural History Museum, it was almost reverent and yet amazing and overwhelming all at the same time. The manner in which each item was displayed drew your attention to even smaller details and the use of the iPads was a great idea and a wealth of information. Very well done Jim Shockey! Well done indeed and getting to meet you, well that was the ultimate highlight.

dave adams

I have never seen a collection like this. Quite remarkable.

Dave D

It was incredible

Karen Elliott

Awesome place to visit!!

Stefanie Blackburn

We had heard about "Hand of Man" through the grape vine and wow, we are so glad we decided to go while visiting Vancouver Island. It is a really special place. We took our three kids and we were all in awe by how much there was to see. Something new and interesting around every corner. We were lucky enough to briefly meet and chat with Jim and he seems very passionate about this amazing place he has created. We will most definitely be coming back again. We highly recommend it!

Daryl Foulds

Our small group visit was an Incredible experience, to see all the items carefully set up on display. It’s not just a museum of hunting and wildlife - it brings forward so many aspects of the great outdoors creatures and cultures from around the world. You find yourself just amazed at every corner, as you move around the various display rooms in the complex. If you are fortunate enough with your timing, Jim Shockey himself may be onsite during your visit. Jim was such a gracious host and very friendly chatting with all the various guests while we were present. His stories about the history of this collection added incredible value to the experience. Highly recommend this place to visit with your entire family or even just an adults trip excursion.

Deborah Jones

A hidden gem. Quality and extent of exhibits far surpassed my expectation. Definitely worth a visit! or two!