Marine Museum of Manitoba facts for kids
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| Established | 1972 |
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| Location | Selkirk, Manitoba |
| Type | Naval museum |
The Marine Museum of Manitoba in Selkirk, Manitoba, is a cool place that opened in 1972. It collects old ships and other items about shipping. The museum tells the story of how people traveled on Lake Winnipeg and the Red River. You can learn about transportation from around 1850 all the way to today.
This museum is run by a group of local people who care about history. They get help from the City of Selkirk, local businesses, and the government. Their main goal is to find, keep, study, and show off their collection of historical items.
The Motor Ship Keenora is a very special ship at the museum. Built in 1897, it is the oldest preserved steamboat in Manitoba. It was the first ship the museum got. The Keenora was left in the Selkirk Slough in 1966. Then, in 1972, a group of twenty business people from Selkirk bought it.
In the summer of 1973, the Keenora was moved out of the Red River. It was pulled across the grass of Selkirk Park to where it sits now, near the park entrance. The Keenora first opened for visitors on weekends starting October 20, 1973.
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Steamship "Keenora" at port, in Rainy River District, Ontario (c.1905)
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The "last run" of the MS Keenora, being dragged into position at Selkirk Park (1973)
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The "last run," MS Keenora arrives at museum site Selkirk Park (1973)
Amazing Ships to Explore
The museum has at least six large ships that you can visit and learn about. Each one has its own unique story!
| Ship Name | Picture | Built In | What It Did |
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| SS Keenora | 
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1897 | This steamship first carried people and goods on Ontario's Lake of the Woods. Later, it was taken apart, moved by train to Winnipeg, and rebuilt. It then worked on Lake Winnipeg and the Red River. |
| CGS Bradbury | 
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1915 | This was a strong icebreaker owned by the Canadian government. It helped clear paths through ice. |
| M/S Chickama II |  |
1942 | This small steamboat could travel in shallow waters. It went north from Lake Winnipeg on the Nelson River and Playgreen Lake. It carried people and goods to places where the Keenora could not go. It also pulled barges. |
| M/S Lady Canadian | 
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1944 | This ship was a fish freighter, meaning it carried fish. It was later used by Manitoba Hydro to survey (study) water areas. |
| M/S Peguis II | 
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1955 | This was a barge tug, a boat used to push or pull barges. |
| M/S Joe Simpson | 
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1963 | This vessel took over the job of the M/S Chickama II. |
Museum Connections
The Marine Museum works with other groups to share history. These include the Canadian Museums Association, the Canadian Heritage Information Network, and the Virtual Museum of Canada.
See also
- List of museum ships
