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 about Canada's military history. It used to be called the Museum of the Regiments. On June 3, 2006, it became The Military Museums.
This museum brings together the old Museum of the Regiments, the Naval Museum of Alberta, and an Air Force Wing. It shows many cool artifacts from Canada's military past.
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History of The Military Museums
The Museum of the Regiments first opened on June 30, 1990. Queen Elizabeth II officially opened it. It was located at what was then CFB Calgary, a Canadian Forces base.
The museum worked with the Calgary Military Museums Society. It started with four military regiments from Calgary. Each regiment had its own special gallery.
The Military Museums collects and shares the history of all parts of the Canadian Forces. This includes the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Army, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. It especially focuses on Alberta's military history.
The museum keeps records, photos, and items from the past. It helps people learn about the history of the old base and its units. The goal is to make history interesting for everyone.
Important Memorials at the Museum
The museum has several memorials to remember brave soldiers. These memorials help us honor those who served and sacrificed.
On August 11, 1989, a special memorial was dedicated. It honors the war dead of the museum's founding regiments. These include Lord Strathcona's Horse, King's Own Calgary Regiment, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and The Calgary Highlanders.
Another memorial is a brass plaque. It remembers members of Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) killed since 1900. There is also a list of officers from this regiment who died in the Second World War.
A brass plaque also honors local Jewish servicemen. It remembers those who died in the First and Second World Wars.
The Canadian Peacekeepers Roll of Honour lists Canadians killed while on peacekeeping duty. This list covers the years from 1939 to 1993.
A memorial for Royal Canadian Navy sailors was unveiled on June 25, 2000. It honors those who served and died during the Korean War.
Museum of the Regiments Galleries
The museum used to be called the Museum of the Regiments. It had galleries for four Calgary-area regiments.
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) Gallery
This gallery teaches about the history of the Strathconas regiment. It also shows what daily life was like for its members. They offer educational services to the public and schools.
The museum team works with The Military Museums Foundation. They help train students interested in museum work. They also share history with the Calgary area. The archives have many records, photos, and art from the regiment's history. You can even get family history reports for free.
The collections manager takes care of uniforms, artifacts, and weapons. These items are used for displays and study. The museum has tanks and other vehicles from the regiment's history. You can see them around the museum grounds.
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Gallery
This gallery collects and displays items from the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI). These items include medals, weapons, and maps. They show the military and social history of the PPCLI.
The goal is to make the history of the PPCLI interesting. The PPCLI became a Calgary regiment after the Second World War. Its history goes all the way back to 1914.
There is a special memorial for deceased members of the PPCLI. It includes stained glass, a book of remembrance, and a wall of honor.
A statue called Let's Go! honors the 25,000 Canadians who served in the Korean War (1950–53). It especially remembers Private Malcolm McNeil of the 2nd Battalion PPCLI.
The King's Own Calgary Regiment Gallery
This gallery connects people to the history of the King's Own Calgary Regiment (KOCR). It shares knowledge about their past activities and battles. It also shows their equipment.
The gallery keeps historical items and information safe. It helps with recruiting new members for the regiment. Instructors also use it to teach about past campaigns. The KOCR Gallery includes information about the 103rd Regiment "Calgary Rifles", Calgary Regiment, Calgary Tanks, and the 50th (Calgary) Battalion, CEF.
The Calgary Highlanders Gallery
This gallery collects and displays objects that tell the story of The Calgary Highlanders regiment. Learning about their past helps people understand their traditions. It also shows what makes them unique as a Western Canadian highland regiment.
The gallery has artifacts from the regiment's beginnings. It covers their service in the First World War and the Second World War. It also includes their work in United Nations Operations, like in Korea (1950–1953). You can learn about their peacetime service and recent deployments to Afghanistan. The gallery also covers their help during the 2013 Alberta floods.
Life-size displays show important moments in the regiment's history. These include the wounding of Lieutenant-Colonel Russell Lambert Boyle. Another shows Sergeant C.K. Crockett crossing the Albert Canal. There is also a scene from an action in Zhari District, Afghanistan.
Other Interesting Galleries and Displays
The Lord Strathcona's Horse (RC) and PPCLI regiments have moved to Edmonton. However, the museum still has galleries for these four regiments. There is also a gallery about the history of all military units in Alberta.
Underneath the museum's entrance, there is a life-size display. It includes a M4 Sherman tank and a jeep. This display was put together before the entrance was finished.
Outside the museum, you can see many displays. There is an eternal flame and large statues. You can also find a collection of tanks, armored cars, and anti-tank guns. A Canadair CF-5 plane is mounted in a steep climb. You can see it from Crowchild Trail.
In 2013, a Canadair CF-104 Starfighter was added. It is housed in a hangar with a Canadair Sabre. Another hangar holds a McDonnell Douglas CF-18 Hornet that retired after 26 years.
Memorial stained glass windows honor members of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Branch. The Founder's Gallery opened in June 2009. Sophie, Countess of Wessex, officially opened it.
Library and Archives for Research
The museum has a large military history library. It is part of the University of Calgary library. It also holds the archives for the four regiments.
The library is open to everyone. The University of Calgary Library and Cultural Resources manages it.
Education and Outreach Programs
The museum has great education programs for young people. Many speakers visit schools and reach thousands of students. About 7,000 children take special tours of the museum each year. Lorna Gutsche manages these programs.
The museum has won many awards for its programs. It received awards from the Alberta Museums Association. It also won an award from the Canadian Museums Association. This was for a youth tour of Vimy Ridge in 2006. In 2007, it won another award for projects about the 90th anniversary of the Vimy Ridge battle.
Museum Upgrades and Changes
In May 2005, the museum's entryway was renamed the Queen Elizabeth II Atrium. This happened during a royal visit.
On June 3, 2006, the museum changed its name to The Military Museums. The Naval Museum of Alberta and the Air Force Museum of Alberta joined the new institution. The museum has been renovated and expanded to make space for these new museums.
From February to April 2007, the museum held a competition. It was to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Winners in different categories were invited to tour Canadian battlefields in France and Belgium in July 2007.
Valour Canada: The New Name
The original foundation was the Calgary Military Museums Society (CMMS). It no longer works directly with The Military Museums. In 2012, it changed its name to Valour Canada. It continues to work on other projects.
See also
