Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Prince of Wales
Northern Heritage Centre

Established	1979
Location	4750 48th Street Yellowknife, Northwest Territories X1A 2L9
Type	Northern Heritage Centre

The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (PWNHC) is a cool museum and archives in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. It's like a special treasure chest for the history and cultures of the Northwest Territories (NWT). The museum collects and takes care of important items and old documents. It helps everyone learn about the NWT's past and its many different cultures.

Discovering NWT History
- What Does the Centre Do?
How the Museum Started
More Than Just a Museum
- What You Can Explore
Images for kids
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Discovering NWT History

The PWNHC is the main museum for the Government of the Northwest Territories. It's not just a place to look at old things. It also helps other groups and people who want to learn about or protect the history of the NWT. Think of it as a central hub for all things related to the NWT's amazing heritage.

What Does the Centre Do?

The Centre has a big job! It collects objects and old papers that show what life was like in the NWT. It also creates exciting exhibits that tell stories about the land, the people, and the history of this northern region. Plus, it helps other museums and cultural groups in the NWT.

How the Museum Started

The idea for a museum in the Northwest Territories began a long time ago. In the early 1950s, some people in Yellowknife who loved history dreamed of having a place to keep northern treasures.

Building the First Museum

After many years of planning, the first museum opened in July 1963. It was called the 'Museum of the North' and was located right in downtown Yellowknife. At first, volunteers from the Yellowknife Museum Society ran it. They worked hard to take care of all the artifacts.

Growing into a Bigger Centre

By 1970, the Government of the Northwest Territories took over caring for the museum's items. People realized that many important northern artifacts were being lost. There was a big need for a larger place to protect these items and offer museum services across the NWT. So, in 1972, the government officially approved plans for a bigger and better museum.

Opening the Prince of Wales Centre

Construction for the new building started in 1975. Finally, on April 3, 1979, a very special guest came to open the new facility. It was Prince Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales. The Centre was named after him!

More Than Just a Museum

The Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre is much more than just a place with exhibits. It holds a huge collection of items that tell the stories of the NWT's people and cultures. These items are kept safe for everyone to learn from.

What You Can Explore

Besides its cool exhibits, the Centre also has the NWT Archives. This is where old documents, photos, and records are stored. It's like a giant library of the past! The Centre also helps people and groups who are involved in cultural activities and arts in the NWT. They even approve archaeological studies, which means they help decide where people can dig to find ancient artifacts.