Mennonite Heritage Village Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
**Mennonite Heritage Village**
Windmill at Mennonite Heritage Village
Location	Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada.
Type	Cultural history

The Mennonite Heritage Village is a special museum located in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada. It tells the story of the Low German Mennonites who came to Canada. The museum has two main parts: an open-air museum that is open during certain seasons, and indoor galleries that you can visit all year round.

The museum first opened in 1967 and has grown a lot since then. It's a popular place for tourists in the area. It's even called a "Manitoba Signature Museum" and a "Star Attraction," which means it's one of the best museums in Manitoba! About 47,000 people visit the museum every year.

History of the Museum
What You Can See: Collections and Galleries
- Famous Windmill and Other Sights
Events and Activities
Museum Connections
Images for kids
See also

History of the Museum

The idea for the museum started in the early 1960s. At that time, many old buildings in the area were being torn down. A retired teacher named John C. Reimer decided to start collecting old items to save them. He opened a small museum called the Reimer Store on Main Street in Steinbach. This building was later moved to where the museum is today.

In 1964, a group of people formed a committee to help create a bigger museum. The museum, first called the Mennonite Village Museum, opened to the public in 1967. In 1987, its name was changed to Mennonite Heritage Village. The indoor galleries were made much bigger in 1990, allowing for more exhibits.

What You Can See: Collections and Galleries

The outdoor village part of the museum has many original Mennonite buildings. These include special housebarns (buildings that were both a house and a barn), churches, schools, and stores. You can also see a sod hut, which is a simple house made from sod (grass and soil). Some of these buildings are very old, dating back to the 1800s.

Overall, the museum has more than 16,000 items in its collection, including those in the village and the indoor galleries. The indoor part of the museum shows the history of Mennonites. It starts from their beginnings in the Netherlands and Switzerland. It then focuses on the Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonites who traveled from the Russian Empire to Western Canada.

The museum's main collection includes pictures, videos, and many old items. Some of these items are connected to important Mennonite figures like Klaas Reimer. There are also special exhibits that change from time to time. These are held in the Gerhard Enns Gallery and are open all year. The museum also has buildings that show old tractors and other ways people used to travel.

Famous Windmill and Other Sights

One of the most famous things at the museum is its Dutch windmill. It's a copy of the first windmill built in Steinbach in the 1880s. Sadly, the first copy was burned down in 2000, but it was later rebuilt.

In the outdoor village, you can also see a piece of the Berlin Wall. There's also the original sawmill that Mennonite Conscientious Objectors used during World War II. These were people who chose not to fight in the war but helped in other ways, like working in sawmills.

You can also find two important monuments that were originally put up in Ukraine. These monuments celebrate 100 years of Chortitza, an old Mennonite settlement. They also honor two Mennonite leaders, Jacob Hoeppner and Johann Bartsch, who chose the site for the first colonists.

In 2018, a statue of Anabaptist martyr Dirk Willems was put on display at the museum. It was created by the sculptor Peter Sawatzky.

Events and Activities

The museum hosts many special events and festivals throughout the year. One popular event is the Pioneer Days festival, which happens every August. Another is Fall on the Farm, held each Labour Day.

The museum also has a restaurant that serves delicious Mennonite food. This restaurant is open during certain seasons. There's also a bookstore and gift shop where you can buy souvenirs, and it's open all year.

Museum Connections

The Mennonite Heritage Village is connected with several important organizations. These include the Canadian Museums Association, the Canadian Heritage Information Network, and the Virtual Museum of Canada. These connections help the museum share its stories and collections with more people.