Alberta Museum Route
There are 16 museums southeast of Edmonton that showcase various historical aspects, regions and cultures that are an intrinsic part of Alberta’s history. Together, they present a visual, tactile experience of the way life used to be in pioneer prairie towns. You can walk through buildings that are still standing, including a one-room school house; check out implements and artifacts from the 19th and early 20th centuries, or check out a bank that caused an entire town to change its name.
Viking and District Museum
Stroll through a village of restored heritage buildings: a 1907 one-room schoolhouse, a 1905 log store, a church constructed in 1938, a farm house from 1919, and a 1921 hospital which now serves as the town's museum. Holdings also include a large contingent of antique farm tools and implements, a large collection of salt and pepper shakers, and a heritage collection of vintage International Harvester tractors. Each room of the museum presents a different theme: a kitchen, a barber shop, a doctor’s waiting room, and others. Viking newspapers running from 1913 to 1997 are available on CD for historical and genealogical research.
Innisfree Prairie Bank of Commerce Museum
Established in 1908, the history of Innisfree stems back to a visit by the president of the Canadian Bank of Commerce who said that he would build a bank there if the townspeople agreed to change the name of the town from Delnorte to Innisfree – the Scottish hometown of the bank president himself. Today, this same building has been transformed into a prairie bank museum and houses the town's heritage and history.
Camrose Railway Station Museum
Truly one-of-a-kind, the Canadian Northern 3rd class extended Camrose Station is now a G-scale garden railway with model historic buildings and gardens. The Canadian Northern Society saved this 100-year-old station from being demolished years ago; it now sits a few hundred yards from its original location and is surrounded by heritage gardens. The museum features nine railway cars that are each housed in a large interpretive centre, and one of the only Case steam engines in western Canada. Six blocks from the railway station, visitors will find the Camrose and District Centennial Museum, extant with 13 historical buildings, including the school, church and pioneer hall. The Freight Shed Tearoom offers tea and snacks daily. Saturday events include an old fashioned garden party and chocolate.
Lougheed Iron Creek Museum This museum features much of the original panache the thriving pioneer community had back in the day. The Anglican Church remains as popular today as it was then, with couples still getting hitched there. The log hall is home to many artifacts, tools, implements and fashion such as antique wedding dresses, period work clothes and other garments. On-site you'll find a school, a shoemaker's shop, and a grain elevator that all still maintain much of their original character and appeal.
In coordination with www.kalynacountry.com Eco-museum website.