Canadian Canoe Museum facts for kids
The Canadian Canoe Museum new building (2024)
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| Established | 1997 |
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| Location | Peterborough, Ontario, Canada |
| Type | sport museum |
| Founder | Kirk Wipper |
The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, is a special place all about canoes! It's home to an amazing collection of canoes, kayaks, and other boats that people paddle. The museum's main goal is to save and share the stories of how important canoes have been to the people of Canada throughout history.
Contents
The Museum's Journey: How It Started
The museum began in 1957 as the Kanawa Museum. It was also known as the Kanawa International Collection of Canoes, Kayaks and Rowing Craft. A man named Kirk Wipper started it at Camp Kandalore, which is north of Minden, Ontario. He began his collection when a friend gave him an old dugout canoe from around 1890.
Over many years, Professor Wipper's collection grew much larger. The canoes were kept in wooden buildings that weren't quite right for them. By the late 1980s, it was clear they needed a new, proper home. In 1994, Wipper gave his amazing collection to the organization that is now called The Canadian Canoe Museum.
The museum now has the biggest collection of its kind in the world! It holds more than 600 canoes and kayaks. There are also over a thousand other items related to paddling. The museum first opened its doors to the public in its new location in Peterborough on Canada Day in 1997. This new spot used to be a factory that made outboard motors.
Royal Visits and New Homes
In May 2006, Prince Andrew became a special supporter, or patron, of the museum. He is a member of the Canadian Royal Family. He visited the museum on May 11 to celebrate its 10th birthday. Prince Andrew also loaned three canoes to the museum for a long time. These canoes were made near Peterborough and were given to the Royal Family between 1947 and 1981.
In July 2023, the museum started moving its collection to a brand-new building. This new home is right by Little Lake, close to the Trent–Severn Waterway canal lock. The new museum officially opened to visitors on May 11, 2024. Important guests were there, and the Prime Minister of Canada even sent a video message!
What You Can See: Museum Exhibits
The exhibits at The Canadian Canoe Museum show how canoes are a big part of Canada's story and spirit. Besides the huge canoe collection, you can see a cool waterfall inside. There's also a traditional Mi'kmaq wigwam where you can listen to old creation stories.
You can even try building a birch bark canoe in the Preserving Skills Gallery. Imagine planning a trip to find gold, just like in the old gold rush days! You can also feel what it was like to be a voyageur during the fur trade era. Plus, you can explore the fun cottage lifestyles from the early 1900s.
Famous Paddlers and Their Gear
In October 2001, a special exhibit called Reflections: The Land, the People and the Canoe opened. This important exhibit showed Pierre Trudeau's famous buckskin jacket and his birch bark canoe for the very first time. You could also see personal items from other well-known paddlers like Bill Mason, Victoria Jason, and Eric Morse.
Images for kids
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Lobby
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Workshops
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Collection Hall
Plan Your Visit
The Canadian Canoe Museum is located at 2077 Ashburnham Drive in Peterborough, Ontario. It is open every day from 10 AM to 5 PM.
Museum Connections
The museum works with other groups like the Canadian Museums Association, the Canadian Heritage Information Network, and the Virtual Museum of Canada.
