Swords and Ploughshares Museum facts for kids
| Established | 1987 |
|---|---|
| Location | Kars, Ontario, Canada |
The Swords and Ploughshares Museum is a special private museum in Kars, Ontario, Canada. It focuses on a unique part of Canadian military history. This museum shows how regular people, called Citizen Soldiers, helped during wartime and peacetime.
Citizen Soldiers are like everyday heroes. They are people who serve in the military part-time, like militia or reservists. The museum uses old military vehicles and items to show how they were used. It also shows how these items could be changed for everyday civilian use. For example, a Ram tank from World War II was once a museum highlight. After the war, it was changed into a snowplow!
The museum also displays a 1942 Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft gun. This gun is kept in working order. It serves as a special memorial for all Canadian anti-aircraft gunners.
Museum History
The Swords and Ploughshares Museum started in 1987. It was created by Captain M.T. Calnan and Captain M.J. Hilash. They both loved military history and collected old military items. They put their collections together to form the museum. Their goal was to share their artifacts with the public. They wanted to teach people more about Canadian military history.
Land was bought in Kars, Ontario in the late 1980s. A large steel building was built in 1991. This building was made to hold the museum's vehicles and displays. Colonel Michael David Calnan was a very important person for the museum. He was the Honorary Chairman from 1987 until he passed away in 2018.
Fun Outreach Programs
This museum is different from many others. It does not have many permanent displays. Instead, it likes to use "living history" to teach visitors. This means they create interactive displays and demonstrations. You can often see people dressed up in old uniforms. They act out historical events.
The museum takes part in many special events. For example, they joined the 50th Anniversary of D-day Parade. This parade was held in Ottawa in 1994. They also participated in the 64th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. That event took place at the National Aviation Museum in 2004.
The museum also helps organize Canada Day parades. These parades happen in nearby towns. Some towns include Kemptville and Merrickville. They also participate in local fairs. These include the Richmond Fair and the Kars Fair. Owners of historic military vehicles often volunteer their time. They bring their cool vehicles to these parades.
