Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 1986 |
|---|---|
| Location | Wetaskiwin, Alberta Canada |
The Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum is a cool place in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. It teaches you all about the history, culture, and heritage of Wetaskiwin and the nearby areas. This includes the city, the county, and the four Cree Nations: Ermineskin, Louis Bull, Montana, and Samson.
Contents
Discover the Museum's History
The Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum started as a non-profit group in May 1986. Its goal is to collect, show, and protect old items. These items help us understand the natural world, people, and culture of Wetaskiwin. It also covers the Cree Four Band Reserve and the surrounding countryside.
In 2004, the museum needed more space. So, they bought the old Montgomery Store building on Main Street. This building is three stories tall and over one hundred years old! The first floor opened in November 2004. The whole museum, with more than 15,000 items, officially opened on May 7, 2005.
Where to Find the Museum
The Wetaskiwin Heritage Museum is easy to find in Alberta, Canada. It's located between two big cities, Edmonton and Red Deer. You can find it about 65 kilometres south of Edmonton. The museum is right on Main Street at 5007 - 50 Avenue.
Explore Exciting Exhibits
The museum has many interesting exhibits for you to explore. Each one tells a different story about the past.
Step Back in Time: Children's Legacy Centre
The Children's Legacy Centre is in the basement of the museum. It's a special, hands-on exhibit about pioneer life. Kids can pretend they are in a one-room schoolhouse. You can also visit a pioneer kitchen and explore other rooms. You can even dress up in old-fashioned clothes!
Celebrating Women: Women of Aspenland
Every October, Canada celebrates Women's History Month. This month is special because it's when Canadian women officially became "persons" by law. The Wetaskiwin & District Heritage Museum honors women with its "Women of Aspenland" exhibit. It celebrates women who made big contributions to Wetaskiwin. New women are added to this exhibit every year.
What's New: Temporary Exhibits
The main floor of the museum has changing exhibits. These exhibits are updated every year. Right now, you can see "Entertainment and Past Times" from 1890 to 1940. This floor also has the Gift Shop and the Front Desk.
Journey to the Past: Second Floor Exhibits
The second floor is packed with even more history!
Origins of the Land and People
The Origins Exhibit teaches you about the very beginning. You can see dinosaur fossils and old tools from long ago. It also shares facts about the local Cree Nations: Samson, Ermineskin, Montana, and Louis Bull. You can see a fur trading post and a tipi. There are also interactive games to learn about Cree travel, bison, and fur trading.
Community Halls: Virtual Tour
This exhibit lets you explore twenty-five Community Halls from the County of Wetaskiwin No. 10. You can read their stories and see hundreds of pictures. All of this is available on a touch screen computer.
Faith and History: Christian Heritage
The Christian Heritage exhibit shares information about 28 churches in the Wetaskiwin area. It also shows items from many different church groups.
Healing Hands: History of Healthcare
Learn about 100 years of local hospitals in this exhibit. It also highlights the healthcare workers who helped the community.
Early Businesses: How Wetaskiwin Grew
Discover the first businesses in Wetaskiwin. These include French's Jewellery and local banks. You can also see what the old Driard Hotel, Drug Store, and City Meat Market were like.
Step Inside: Century Home
This exhibit shows what a town house looked like around 1910. You can see a living room, kitchen, master bedroom, and a child's room from that time.
New Beginnings: Immigrant Stories
Immigration has played a huge part in Canada's history. This exhibit tells the stories of Swedish and Chinese immigrants. They helped build the City of Wetaskiwin into what it is today.
Remembering the War Years
This exhibit honors the people who helped during wartime. It includes those who served at home and overseas. There is also a special section about war brides.
