Museums of the Northern Leg

If you’re interested in learning more about how this great province got its start, set aside some time on your next visit to west central Alberta to visit a few of the museums and historical sites that capture the guts, glory and determination of people and events that have shaped Alberta over the past 150 years.

Jasper
In this iconic national park the year-round Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives features an historical gallery capturing the essence of pioneer life in the Rocky Mountains. The gallery includes exhibits of the fur trade, the coming of the national railway, early explorers and development of the national park. Featured exhibits include a canoe used by early guide and outfitter Curly Phillips, an ice axe from the first expedition to Mt. Alberta, and artifacts of explorer David Thompson. The yearround museum, located at 400 Bonhomme St., operates from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily during the summer and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday during the winter. jaspermuseum.org

Canoe used by early guide Curly Phillips
Jasper Yellowhead Museum and Archives

Hinton
About an hour northeast of Jasper on the Yellowhead Highway, the Hinton Historical Society has been busy getting a museum open in the 1913 Grand Truck Pacific Railway station house. It’s located at 225 Greg Ave., which is Highway 16 through Hinton. The museum not only captures the railway history of Hinton, but also the history of the town named in 1911 after William P. Hinton, vice president and general manager of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. Museum displays tell the story of the early days fur trade and the exploits of explorer David Thompson during his travels in the region. The society plans to have the museum open Tuesday through Saturdays starting in June for the summer months. For more information on the Society and museum hours email: hintonhistory@gmail.com

1913 Louisville Kentucky Rail Car
Hinton Historical Society

Edson
The Galloway Station Museum and Travel Centre is housed in a former Canadian Northern Railway station that was moved to its present site in Edson’s Centennial Park in 1975. Open yearround, the recently renovated facility includes a larger exhibit space and visitor information centre. Operated by the Edson and District Historical Society, the museum features an up close and personal glimpse into the region’s natural world and early industries. Take the time to explore a life-sized trapper’s cabin and enter a mine shaft. Experience life in a tie camp and learn about Edson’s genuine wild west past. Then investigate artifacts from the Grande Trunk Pacific Canadian Northern
and Canadian National Railways. The museum is open year round but hours vary with season so visit the website before heading out: gallowaystationmuseum.com

The Galloway Station Museum and Travel Centre
Edson, Alberta

Red Brick Art Centre and Museum – Also in Edson visit this museum and performing arts centre housed in an old school house that was built in 1913. The museum focuses on early Alberta school days and features classroom and daily living artifacts from the turn of the last century. The facility also has an art gallery showcasing the work of local artists as well as a 140-seat performing arts theatre. The Theatre hosts a number of local travelling shows and performances over the year. The Red Brick Art Centre and Museum is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round. For more information visit their website at: redbrickartscentre.com

Evansburg
Visit the Tipple Park Museum and maybe see a grouch – that’s all part of the package during a visit to Evansburg, which is on the northern leg of the Cowboy Trail. The museum, located on the original Evansburg coal mine site, features heritage buildings including an early one-room school house, a log cabin once the home of the Mazeppa pioneer family, and the original Scout Hall. Buildings feature displays on local history, including the early days of the hamlet’s namesake Harry Evans, who discovered coal in the area. The community launched a good-natured tradition several years ago of selecting one town resident at the annual Pembina Valley Days to be dubbed as the
“town grouch” for a year. The resident receiving the honor can often be seen at community functions dressed in a coal miner costume. The museum is open year round but hours vary with season so call 780-727-2240 or visit the website before heading out: tippleparkmuseum.com

Drayton Valley
The Drayton Valley Museum features a number of heritage buildings.Watch for the Paul Bunyan bowling ball display. Your getting close. The museum, operated by the Drayton Valley Historical Society, features an old one-room schoolhouse, a barn outfitted with farm implements from pioneering days, as well as a general store. Along with displays of the community’s oil and gas history, visitors can also see displays of early lumber and trapping industries. The museum is open May long weekend until Labor Day daily from 12 noon until 5 p.m. For more information visit the Drayton Valley website at: draytonvalley.ca

Rocky Mountain House
The Rocky Mountain House Museum and visitors centre offers displays in the main building itself, including a working player piano and an amazing collection of different types of barbed wire. Several heritage buildings sit in the adjoining Pioneer Park. They include the 1923 Glacier one-room schoolhouse and the Meadows Cabin which was once an original Forest Service Cabin. Explore the implement shed which features displays of the areas agricultural history. This includes a “brand board” which carries livestock brands once displayed at Coles Auction Mart. Take in the pancake breakfast each July 1st. The museum is open daily year round but hours vary with season so
visit the website before heading out: rockymuseum.com

A Working Player Piano Rocky Mountain House Museum and Visitor Centre

The Meadows Cabin
Rocky Mountain House Museum and Visitor Centre

Nordegg
West of Rocky Mountain House along Hwy 11 you’ll find the Nordegg Heritage Centre museum housed in a historic yellow schoolhouse. The Heritage Centre features a museum, café and gift shop. The museum features displays of local history including early school days and the life and times of early coal mining days. The Heritage Centre is open daily from the May long weekend until late August from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. While you’re at the centre, book a tour of the Brazeau Collieries Mine Site, designated as both a provincial and national historic site. The upper site includes a guided tour of ancillary buildings and a trip into a coal mine shaft and a separate tour takes visitors
through an old barbecue briquette plant. Tours leave from the Heritage Centre and operate through the summer months on a varied schedule so check the website: clearwatercounty.ca

Early Coal Mining Days
Nordegg Heritage Centre Museum

By: Lee Hart

A Working Player Piano
Rocky Mountain House Museum and Visitor Centre
The Meadows Cabin
Rocky Mountain House Museum and Visitor Centre
Early Coal Mining Days
Nordegg Heritage