Royal Saskatchewan Museum facts for kids
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| Former name | Saskatchewan Museum of Natural History |
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| Established | 1906 |
| Location | 2445 Albert Street Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Type | Natural history |
| Collection size | 3,500,000 |
| Visitors | 139,122 (2017) |
| Owner | Government of Saskatchewan |
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) is a cool natural history museum located in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. It first opened its doors in 1906. This makes it the very first museum in Saskatchewan. It was also the first provincial museum in the three Prairie provinces. The museum was created to collect and protect amazing things. These include natural history items, historical objects, and items showing different cultures.
The museum was first called the Saskatchewan Museum of Natural History. In 1993, Queen Elizabeth II gave it special royal support. Because of this, its name was changed to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.
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A Look at the Museum's History
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum has moved around a lot! Between 1906 and 1945, it was in several different buildings. These included the Regina Trading Company Building and the Provincial Legislative Building. It was also in the Regina Normal School, which is now part of the University of Regina.
During World War II, the museum's collections had to be stored away. They were moved to keep them safe. The Normal School was used for pilot training during the war. The collections were put back on display in 1946.
Building the Current Museum
In 1953, the government started building the museum's current home. It was a special project for Saskatchewan's 50th birthday. The new building opened on May 16, 1955. It was opened by Governor General Vincent Massey. The museum was built at an angle with a big front lawn. This was done for a nice look and to avoid moving old building foundations.
When it opened, it was still called the Saskatchewan Museum of Natural History. This name lasted until 1993. That's when Queen Elizabeth II gave it the "Royal" title. It then became the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.
What Can You See? The Galleries
The museum's collections have faced some tough times. In 1912, a big storm called the Regina Cyclone damaged many items. In 1990, a fire broke out in the First Nations Gallery. This caused a lot of smoke damage. The museum had to close for four months to clean up.
Since then, the museum has been greatly improved. New galleries have been built or updated. These include the First Nations Gallery, Life Sciences Gallery, and Earth Sciences Gallery. The museum also now runs the T.rex Discovery Centre.
Earth Sciences Gallery: Discovering Ancient Worlds
The Earth Sciences Gallery takes you on a journey through time. You can learn how Earth formed and how Saskatchewan got its rich minerals. You'll also see giant reptiles, dinosaurs, and other amazing creatures. These animals lived in Saskatchewan over the past two billion years! It's a fascinating look at our province's ancient past.
CN T. rex Gallery: Meet Scotty!
On May 17, 2019, something huge arrived! A life-size model of Scotty, the world's largest T. rex, went on display. You can find Scotty in the two-story CN T. rex Gallery. This gallery is part of the Earth Sciences Gallery.
Scotty was found by museum researchers in Saskatchewan in 1991. This amazing fossil is now shown in two places in Saskatchewan. One is in Regina, and the other is in Eastend. The gallery shows the injuries Scotty got during its long life. It also highlights the plants and animals that lived alongside this giant dinosaur.
First Nations Gallery: Celebrating Indigenous Cultures
The First Nations Gallery opened on June 26, 1993. This gallery was created with a lot of help. Researchers, Indigenous Elders, students, and community members all worked together. It features detailed models and life-size scenes. The gallery explores the cultures, traditions, and history of Saskatchewan's Indigenous people. It covers over 10,000 years of their story.
Life Sciences Gallery: Explore Saskatchewan's Nature
The Life Sciences Gallery opened in June 2001. It has sixteen detailed, life-size displays. These show the different natural areas and seasons of Saskatchewan. The gallery teaches you how all living things are connected. You can even see what it's like inside a bear's den or a beaver's lodge! It's a great way to celebrate Saskatchewan's beautiful landscapes and diverse wildlife.
Museum Collections
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum has a huge collection! It holds over 3.5 million items. This includes 3 million archaeological artifacts. There are also 250,000 insects and 37,500 fossils. Plus, you can find 10,000 birds, 6,500 plants, and many other animals. These collections help scientists learn more about Saskatchewan's natural history and Indigenous cultures.
T.rex Discovery Centre
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum also operates the T.rex Discovery Centre. This center is located in Eastend, Saskatchewan. The museum took over its operations on February 14, 2013. The T.rex Discovery Centre is home to many fossils. These fossils are from the Cretaceous and Cenozoic periods.
The T.rex Discovery Centre was built to show off the amazing fossils found in southwest Saskatchewan. The town of Eastend wanted a place to display the rich fossil record. This includes fossils from the Frenchman River Valley and the Cypress Hills. The T.rex Discovery Centre opened in 2001.
Museum Connections
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum works with other important groups. It is connected to the Canadian Museums Association. It also works with the Canadian Heritage Information Network. And it is part of the Virtual Museum of Canada.
