Chemainus Murals Town
Chemainus
A former sawmill town revived by more than 40 historical murals. Stroll the streets to see the murals, the theatre and antique shops.
Chemainus lies about 35 kilometres south of Nanaimo. It was once a logging town that depended on its sawmill. After the mill closed in the 1980s, residents rescued the town with a “Mural Project”. They painted more than 40 large murals on the exterior walls of buildings, depicting Indigenous peoples, loggers and early settlers. This made Chemainus one of the best-known tourist destinations on Vancouver Island. Yellow footprints painted on the ground guide you along the mural route, which takes about 1 to 2 hours to walk. The Chemainus Theatre stages musicals year-round, and the area also has antique shops, dessert cafés and a waterfront park. It can be combined with the town of Ladysmith for a half-day trip.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- WildPlay Element Parks Nanaimo
- Petroglyph Provincial Park
- Gabriola Island & Malaspina Galleries
- Nanaimo Museum
- Nanaimo Bastion
- Dinghy Dock Pub (Protection Island)
- Nanaimo Harbourfront Walkway
- Saysutshun (Newcastle Island Marine) Provincial Park