The Doukhobor Discovery Centre is the clearest introduction to Castlegar's most distinctive history. The museum uses historic buildings, household objects, photographs, and outdoor displays to show how Doukhobor communities lived in the southern interior in the early 20th century.
The story matters because it explains why Castlegar feels different from other Kootenay towns. The Doukhobors came to Canada from Russia after persecution for their pacifist beliefs, then built communal settlements, farms, bridges, and cultural institutions around the Kootenay and Columbia rivers.