The Nicola Valley Museum Archives Association (NVMAA) is relatively new compared to many of the historical groups throughout the province of British Columbia. It was formed in the summer of 1976 and operated out of various temporary store-front locations for five years before moving into a new Museum/Archives building at 2201 Coldwater Avenue in Merritt.

Although the Association had no “home” during its formative years, it made its presence known in the community through the publication of the Nicola Valley Historical Quarterly. This publication served to attract members from all over the world and hold the group together by providing a purpose for continuing research in the history of Merritt and the Nicola Valley.