Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1986 |
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| Location | Wetaskiwin, Alberta Canada |
The Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum is a special place in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. It teaches visitors all about the history, culture, and heritage of Wetaskiwin, the local Cree Nations, and the areas around them. You can find the museum right on Main Street.
Contents
Museum History
The Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum started as a non-profit group in May 1986. A non-profit group means they work for the community, not just to make money.
In 2004, the museum needed more space. So, the museum group bought the old Montgomery Store building on Main Street. The first floor opened in November 2004. The whole building, with over 15,000 historical items, officially opened on May 7, 2005.
Explore the Exhibits
The museum has many interesting exhibits for you to explore. They show what life was like long ago in Wetaskiwin.
Children's Legacy Centre
The Children's Legacy Centre is in the basement of the museum. It's a fun, hands-on exhibit about pioneer life. Kids can pretend they are in a one-room schoolhouse. You can also visit a pioneer kitchen. You can even dress up in old-fashioned clothes while you explore!
Honoring Women of Aspenland
Every October, Canada celebrates Women's History Month. This month was chosen because it's when Canadian women officially became "persons" by law. The museum has a special exhibit called "The Women of Aspenland." It celebrates many women who helped build the Wetaskiwin community.
Changing Temporary Exhibits
The main floor of the museum has special exhibits that change every year. Right now, you can see "Entertainment and Past Times" from 1890 to 1940. This exhibit shows how people had fun a long time ago. The main floor also has the Gift Shop and the Front Desk.
Second Floor Discoveries
The second floor of the museum has many different exhibits. They cover a wide range of topics.
Origins of the Land
The Origins Exhibit teaches you about the very first people and creatures here. You can see dinosaur fossils. There are also old tools and items from the local Cree Nations. These include the Samson, Ermineskin, Montana, and Louis Bull Nations. You can also see a fur trading post and a tipi. There are even interactive games to learn about Cree migration and bison.
Community Halls Exhibit
This exhibit lets you explore the history of 25 Community Halls. These halls are from the County of Wetaskiwin No. 10. You can read their stories and see hundreds of pictures. All of this is available on a special touch screen computer.
Christian Heritage Display
The Christian Heritage exhibit shares information about 28 churches. These churches are from the Wetaskiwin area. It also shows items from many different church groups.
History of Healthcare
This exhibit looks at 100 years of local hospitals. It also honors the healthcare workers who helped the community.
Early Businesses of Wetaskiwin
Learn about the first businesses in Wetaskiwin. This includes jewelry stores and different banks. You can also see what old hotels, drug stores, and meat markets were like.
Century Home Experience
Step back in time in the Century Home exhibit. It shows what a town house looked like around 1910. You can see a living room, kitchen, and bedrooms from that time.
Immigrant Stories
Many people came to Canada from other countries. This exhibit tells the stories of Swedish and Chinese immigrants. They helped build the City of Wetaskiwin.
War Years Remembered
This exhibit honors people who helped during wartime. It includes those who served overseas and those who helped at home. There is also a special display about war brides.
