Transcona Museum facts for kids
Transcona Museum
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| Established | 1967 |
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| Location | 141 Regent Ave. W |
| Type | Civic museum |
| Public transit access | 46 Transcona Express 47 Transcona - Pembina 89 - North Transcona - Kildonan Place |
The Transcona Museum is a cool place in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its main goal is to keep the community spirit of Transcona alive. It does this by sharing the town's history and stories with everyone.
The museum started in 1967. It was a special project to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday. The museum officially opened its doors on October 15, 1968. It was first located in the basement of the Transcona Public Library.
Today, the museum is in a historic building. This building was first built by the Bank of Toronto in 1925. Later, it became the Transcona Municipal Office. The City of Winnipeg now owns and runs this building.
Over the years, the Transcona Museum has gathered many items. These include old artifacts, photos, and documents. They all help tell the story of Transcona's past. The collections have railway items, things from old businesses, historic clothes, and household objects. There are also special collections about nature and culture.
Contents
Discovering Transcona's Past
The Transcona Museum has a huge collection of items. These items help us learn about the history of Transcona. The museum's collections include many different types of objects.
Community Artifacts
The museum has about 4,000 artifacts from the community. Many of these were used by people who lived in Transcona. The collection shows the human history of the area. You can see household tools, art objects, and personal items. There are also mechanical tools, office equipment, and farming gear. Plus, you'll find transportation items and military objects. These military items are from the Boer War, First World War, and Second World War.
The Transcona Museum also keeps over 800 pieces of clothing and textiles. These belonged to people from Transcona.
The Cecil Patterson Archaeology Collection
This special collection has about 3,500 artifacts. They come from over 80 old sites across Manitoba. Some of the oldest pieces are more than 10,000 years old! This collection includes objects from many of Manitoba's First Nations cultures. These include the Cree, Anishinaabe, Inuit, Dakota, and Chipewyan peoples.
The collection shows what life was like before Europeans arrived. It covers the boreal forest, aspen parkland, and prairie regions of Manitoba. Most artifacts were used for hunting, preparing animal hides, and cooking food. You can see arrowheads, knives, scrapers, and axes. There are also mauls, pottery, and pieces of old pots. Some items are ethnological, like moccasins, mitts, and beaded necklaces.
The Christopher Stephen Quelch Lepidoptera Collection
This amazing collection has over 8,000 specimens of moths and butterflies. They come from all over the world, but many are from Manitoba. The collection also has more than 1,000 bird eggs.
The CN 2747 Steam Locomotive
In 2015, the Transcona Museum got the CN 2747 steam locomotive. This was the very first steam engine built in the Western Region by CN. It was built right in the Transcona Shops. It was also the first of 33 steam engines made there.
In 1960, the engine was retired. It was then placed in Kiwanis Park for the community. It was a gift to show the dedication of Transcona's citizens. In 2017, the museum started making repairs to the engine. They want to keep it safe for a long time. The museum is now raising money to build a protective cover over the engine. This will keep it safe from the weather. It will also make it easier for visitors to see and learn about it.
Current Museum Exhibits
The Transcona Museum often has interesting exhibits for visitors. Here are some you might see:
- Common Technology: From Past Lives to Future Ideas
- Celebrating 50 Years: The Founding of the Transcona Museum
- Treasures of the Transcona Museum
- Interactive Discovery Centre
- Virtual Exhibit: "Serving King and Country: Transcona's Hometown Heroes"
