PoMo Museum facts for kids
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| Former name | Port Moody Station Museum |
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| Established | 1969 |
| Location | Port Moody, British Columbia, Canada |
| Type | Railway Museum |
| Owner | Port Moody Heritage Society |
| Public transit access | Moody Centre station |
| Nearest parking | On site (no charge) |
The POMO Museum, which used to be called the Port Moody Station Museum, is a special place in Port Moody, British Columbia. It is run by the Port Moody Heritage Society. Their goal is to teach visitors all about the interesting history of the city.
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History of the Museum
The museum first started back in 1969. A group called the Port Moody Historical Society wanted to save the city's history. This group later changed its name to the Port Moody Heritage Society in 1979.
At first, the museum was in a different building. But in 1978, it moved to a much cooler location: an old Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) train station!
The train station stopped being used for passengers in 1976. So, the Historical Society carefully moved the entire building by truck to its current spot near Rocky Point Park. The museum officially opened its doors there on July 1, 1983.
More recently, in June 2023, the museum got a new name. It is now called the POMO Museum.
Who Runs the Museum?
A team of dedicated people helps run the museum. This includes a group of volunteers and staff members who take care of the exhibits and plan fun events for visitors.
What Can You See at the Museum?
The museum tells the story of Port Moody, from its earliest days to the 1940s. Since the city grew up around the railway, many exhibits are about trains. You can see cool things like handcars and even the old station itself. Because of this, some people think it's only a train museum, but it covers all of Port Moody's history!
The Venosta Railcar
One of the museum's biggest attractions is the Venosta. It's a fancy, first-class CPR sleeper car. This means people used to sleep on it during long train journeys!
It was built in 1921 and was very modern for its time. The railcar was used for many years before it was retired in 1964. In 1986, the museum got the Venosta, and volunteers worked hard to restore it. Now, visitors can see what it was like to travel in style.
CPR Railway Garden
Outside the museum, you can find a special garden. It's a recreation of the kind of gardens that were often found at CPR stations over 100 years ago.
The garden grows "heritage" plants. These are old types of flowers and vegetables that you might not see anymore. It's like a living piece of history!
Listening to the Past: The Oral History Project
History isn't just about objects; it's also about people's stories. Since 1975, the museum has been recording interviews with people who have lived in Port Moody. They share their memories of what the city was like long ago.
These recordings, first on tape and now on digital files, help preserve the city's history in the words of those who lived it.
The Postcard Barrel
The museum has a very unique way to send mail: a postcard barrel! It's one of only a few in the entire world.
The idea comes from an old tradition started by sailors in the Galápagos Islands. Sailors would leave letters in a barrel. Other sailors heading in the right direction would pick them up and deliver them.
At the POMO Museum, you can leave a postcard in the barrel for another visitor to find and deliver by hand. It's a fun, old-fashioned way to connect with people!
See also
