The Military Museums facts for kids
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| Established | 1990 |
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| Location | 4520 Crowchild Trail SW, Calgary, Alberta |
The Military Museums in Calgary, Alberta, is a special place where you can learn all about Canada's military history. It used to be called the Museum of the Regiments. On June 3, 2006, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, announced its new name. This museum now includes the original Museum of the Regiments, the Naval Museum of Alberta, and an Air Force Wing with cool airplanes and artifacts.
Contents
History of the Museums
The Museum of the Regiments first opened its doors on June 30, 1990. Queen Elizabeth II herself was there for the opening! It was located at what was then a military base called CFB Calgary. This museum was a team effort by four military groups in Calgary, and each group had its own special display area.
The Military Museums works to keep the history of all parts of the Canadian Forces alive. This includes the Royal Canadian Navy (sailors), the Canadian Army (soldiers), and the Royal Canadian Air Force (pilots and aircrew). They focus on Alberta's military past. The museum has many public displays and old records.
The museum collects and shows items that tell the story of the old military base (which closed in 1998) and the groups of soldiers who were stationed there. Their main goal is to make people interested in this history. They also work with other groups that have similar goals.
Remembering Heroes: Memorials
A memorial is a special way to remember people, especially those who gave their lives serving their country. The Military Museums has several important memorials.
On August 11, 1989, Patricia Knatchbull, 2nd Countess Mountbatten of Burma, helped dedicate a memorial. It's made of granite and metal and remembers the soldiers from the museum's founding groups who died in wars. These groups include Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians), King's Own Calgary Regiment, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and The Calgary Highlanders.
There's also a brass plaque that remembers members of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) who have died since 1900. Another brass plaque remembers Jewish soldiers from the area who died in the First and Second World Wars.
The Canadian Peacekeepers Roll of Honour lists the names of Canadians who died while on peacekeeping missions between 1939 and 1993.
The Naval Museum of Alberta and the Calgary navy community also created a memorial. It honors all Royal Canadian Navy sailors who served, especially those who died during the Korean War. This memorial was officially shown to the public on June 25, 2000.
Museum of the Regiments: The Original Galleries
The first part of The Military Museums was called the Museum of the Regiments. It had special areas, called galleries, for four different military groups from the Calgary area.
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Gallery
This gallery teaches people about the history of the Strathconas, a famous cavalry regiment. You can learn about their daily life and what they did. They also help train students who want to work in museums. The archives here have old records, photos, and art from the regiment's past. You can even get free reports on family history related to the regiment! The museum also has uniforms, artifacts, and weapons on display. Outside, you can see different vehicles, including tanks, that the regiment used.
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Gallery
This gallery collects and displays medals, weapons, maps, and other items that show the history of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). It helps people understand how this group developed within the Canadian Forces. The PPCLI became a Calgary regiment after the Second World War, but their history goes all the way back to 1914.
There's a special memorial here with stained glass, a book of remembrance, and a wall of honor. It remembers members of the PPCLI who have passed away.
You can also see a statue called Let's Go!. It honors the 25,000 Canadians who served during the Korean War (1950–53), especially Private Malcolm McNeil of the 2nd Battalion PPCLI.
The King's Own Calgary Regiment Gallery
This gallery helps soldiers and the public connect with the history of The King's Own Calgary Regiment. It shows their past activities, battles, brave actions, and equipment. It's a safe place for historical items and information about the regiment. Soldiers use it to help with training and to learn about past war strategies. This gallery includes information about groups like the 103rd Regiment "Calgary Rifles" and the Calgary Tanks.
The Calgary Highlanders Gallery
The Calgary Highlanders gallery collects and studies objects that tell the story of this regiment in Canadian military history. Learning about their past helps people understand their traditions and their unique role as a Western Canadian highland regiment. The gallery has items from the regiment's beginnings in 1910, through the First and Second World Wars, United Nations operations (like in Korea), peacetime service, and even recent missions in Afghanistan and the 2013 Alberta floods. It also covers their ceremonies and traditions, and the history of the Regimental Pipes and Drums. You can see life-size scenes that show important moments, like the crossing of the Albert Canal.
Other Cool Displays
Even though the LdSH (RC) and PPCLI regiments moved to Edmonton, the museum still has four galleries dedicated to them. There's also a gallery that tells the history of all military groups in Alberta.
Right under the museum's entrance, there's a life-size scene with an M4 Sherman tank and a jeep. This scene was put together before the entrance was even finished!
Outside the museum, you'll find many interesting displays. There's an eternal flame, large statues, and a collection of tanks, armored cars, and anti-tank guns. A Canadair CF-5 airplane is mounted in a steep climb, and you can see it from Crowchild Trail. In 2013, a Canadair CF-104 Starfighter was added. It's in a hangar with a Canadair Sabre. Another hangar holds a McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet that was used for 26 years.
There are also special stained glass windows that remember members of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch and similar groups.
The Founder's Gallery was opened in June 2009 by Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
Library and Archives
The museum has a large military history library. It's part of the University of Calgary library. It also holds the old records (archives) of the four regiments. Anyone can visit the library, and it's run by the University of Calgary.
Learning Programs for Kids
The museum has awesome education programs for young people in Calgary. They have speakers who visit schools and groups, reaching thousands of people. About 7,000 children each year take special tours of the museum. The museum has won many awards for these programs, including two from the Alberta Museums Association and one from the Canadian Museums Association. They even arranged a youth tour of Vimy Ridge in France in 2006!
New Look and Changes
In May 2005, during a visit from the Royal Family, the museum's entrance area was renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Atrium.
On June 3, 2006, the museum officially changed its name to The Military Museums. The Naval Museum of Alberta and the Air Force Museum of Alberta, along with a better library and archives, became part of this new, bigger museum. The museum has been renovated and expanded to make room for the Naval and Air Force Museums.
From February to April 2007, The Military Museums held a big competition to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Winners in different categories (like essay, song, or comic strip) got to go on a tour of Canadian battlefields in France and Belgium in July 2007.
Calgary Military Museums Society
The group that first helped start the museum, the Calgary Military Museums Society (CMMS), now works on other projects. In 2012, they changed their name to Valour Canada.
See also
