Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre facts for kids
| Former name | Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre (CMAGS) |
|---|---|
| Established | 1984 |
| Location | Canmore, Canada |
The Canmore Museum is a cool place to learn about the history of Canmore. It used to be called the Canmore Museum & Geoscience Centre. A group called the Centennial Museum Society started it in 1984. They are a registered charity, which means they do good work for the community. In June 2004, the museum moved to a new, special building in the Canmore Civic Centre. The museum shares over 120 years of local history. It covers different times, cultures, and people from Canmore.
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Museum Connections
The Canmore Museum is connected to several important groups. These groups help museums across Canada and Alberta.
Canadian Museum Groups
The museum is part of the CMA. This group represents almost 2000 museums in Canada. Millions of people visit Canadian museums every year. These museums also employ many people and have thousands of volunteers.
Alberta Museum Groups
The Canmore Museum is also a member of the Alberta Museums Association. This group helps museums within the province of Alberta.
Special Recognition
The Canmore Museum has a special title: Recognized Museum. The Alberta Museums Association gave them this award. To get this award, the museum showed that it meets high standards. These standards are used by museums all over the world. This recognition means the Canmore Museum is a top-quality museum.
Fun Programs
The museum offers many exciting programs. They have special school programs for students. They also run fun summer programs for kids of different ages. These programs help teach people about Canmore's history.
Canmore Museum History
The idea for the museum started way back in 1936. A teacher named Edna Appleby gave her students a special assignment. They had to write letters to other countries asking for a doll in traditional clothing. One student, Mavis Mallabone, kept collecting dolls from all over the world. This amazing doll collection was shown at the museum for many years.
Collecting Canmore's Past
The museum collects many items from Canmore's past. These items show the town's history. They have artifacts from the early mining days. They also have items from the 1988 Winter Olympics and beyond.
From Mining Town to Mountain Hub
After the coal mine closed in 1979, some people thought Canmore might become a ghost town. But Canmore changed! It became the home of the Nordic Centre for the 1988 Winter Olympics. Since then, Canmore has grown into a popular mountain town. It is a great place for tourism and vacations all year round.
Historic Places to Visit
History lovers can visit many places in Canmore. The museum helps look after the 19th-century North-West Mounted Police Barracks. You can also see the Canmore Hotel, which was a favorite spot for miners. The original Miner's Union Hall is still used today. It will be part of a new theater project.
Exciting Exhibits
The Canmore Museum has interesting exhibits for everyone.
Survival In Paradise
This exhibit opened in 2023 and is always on display. It tells the story of Canmore as a coal mining town. You can see real items from the past. These items show what life was like before the mines closed in 1979. You can even explore the mines using a cool Virtual Reality experience!
Mountain Kids: Growing up in the Bow Valley
This special exhibit opened in February 2025. It shows what life is like for kids in Canmore. It covers both the past and the present. There are fun, interactive parts for visitors of all ages to enjoy!
Museum Events
The Canmore Museum hosts many presentations and evening talks. These events feature local authors and experts. They talk about Canmore's history, heritage, and geology. The museum society has also worked hard to save historic places in Canmore, like the Canmore Hotel. The museum welcomes ideas from the community about what history means to them.
