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 cool museum in Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada. It tells the story of the Low German Mennonites who came to live in Canada.

This museum has two main parts. There's an open-air museum that's open during certain seasons, like summer. It's like stepping back in time! There are also indoor galleries that you can visit all year round.

The museum first opened in 1967. Since then, it has grown a lot. It's now a very popular place for tourists to visit in the area. It's even called a "Manitoba Signature Museum and Star Attraction." About 47,000 people visit the museum every year to learn about history.

Discovering the Museum's History
- How the Museum Started
Exploring the Collections and Galleries
- What You Can See Inside
- Famous Outdoor Exhibits
Fun Events and Food
Museum Connections
Gallery
See also

Discovering the Museum's History

The idea for this museum started in the early 1960s. At that time, many old, important buildings in the area were being torn down. A retired teacher named John C. Reimer wanted to save pieces of history. He began collecting old items.

How the Museum Started

John C. Reimer opened a small museum called the Reimer Store on Main Street in Steinbach. This building was later moved to where the main museum is today. In 1964, a committee was formed to help create a bigger museum.

The museum first opened to the public in 1967. It was originally called the Mennonite Village Museum. In 1987, its name was changed to the Mennonite Heritage Village. The indoor galleries were made much bigger in 1990, allowing for more exhibits.

Exploring the Collections and Galleries

The Mennonite Heritage Village has a huge collection of 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 (earth and grass). Some of these buildings are from the 1800s!

What You Can See Inside

The museum has more than 16,000 items in its collection. The indoor galleries show the history of Mennonites. They tell how Mennonites started in the Netherlands and Switzerland. The museum especially focuses on the Plautdietsch-speaking Mennonites who moved to Western Canada from the Russian Empire.

The permanent collection has many old pictures, videos, and historical items. Some items are connected to important Anabaptist figures like Klaas Reimer. There are also temporary exhibits that change throughout the year. You can find these in the Gerhard Enns Gallery. The museum also has old tractors and other vehicles in its transportation buildings.

Famous Outdoor Exhibits

The museum is very well known for its Dutch windmill. This windmill is a copy of the original one built in Steinbach in the 1880s. Sadly, the first copy was burned down in 2000. But don't worry, it was rebuilt!

In the outdoor village, you can also see a piece of the Berlin Wall. This is a real piece of history from Germany! 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.

You can also find two important monuments. These were first put up in Ukraine to celebrate 100 years of Chortitza. They honor two Mennonite leaders, Jacob Hoeppner and Johann Bartsch. They chose the site and came with the first settlers.

In 2018, a statue of an Anabaptist martyr named Dirk Willems was added to the museum grounds. A sculptor named Peter Sawatzky created it.

Fun Events and Food

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

The museum also has a restaurant where you can try tasty Mennonite food. This restaurant is open during certain seasons. There's also a bookstore and gift shop that is open all year round. You can find cool souvenirs and books there!

Museum Connections

The Mennonite Heritage Village is connected with several other important groups. These include the Canadian Museums Association, the Canadian Heritage Information Network, and the Virtual Museum of Canada.