World-Class Museums in Alberta
Edmonton and Area: The Ukrainian Heritage Village (https://www.ukrainianvillage.ca/) is 35 minutes East of Edmonton. This seasonal, open-air, living museum showcases the life of early European settlers in Alberta, principally immigrants from the region of what is now Ukraine and Poland during the great Emigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The site features 50 well-maintained structures with displays and offers summer group and school programs. Visit the website for opening dates and hours. Plan on spending 2-3 hours for your visit. At the time of writing, admission for military families with a CFOne card is free.
Edmonton: The Royal Alberta Museum (https://royalalbertamuseum.ca/), located in downtown Edmonton, offers a wide variety of displays and programs. Categories such as cultural studies, earth sciences, and life sciences feature prominently. Collections of Indigenous objects and connections with Indigenous communities set these exhibits apart from other museums in North America. For those looking for paleontology, the museum offers an in-depth look at the quaternary period, or about 2.58 million years ago, and how it relates to Alberta’s history. For hours and admission prices, see their website. At the time of writing, the museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Free admission is available on the February Family Day holiday, Alberta Culture Days weekend in September, and for seniors during Seniors Week in June.
Southwestern Alberta: The Frank Slide Interpretive Center in Crowsnest Pass offers insight into Canada’s deadliest rockslide. On the night of 29 April 1903, 121 tons of rock buried the bulk of the Town of Frank. A group of 17 miners in the coal mine had to dig their way through a coal seam to escape to find only some of their families had survived, with the last survivor passing away in 1995. Over 100,000 tourists visit the site annually where the town and 70-90 residents and possibly additional transient workers still lay buried under up to 140 feet of rock. The site has varying hours seasonally but is open year-round except on Mondays in the off-season. See https://frankslide.ca/ for the most updated information. Canadian military with a CFOne Card are offered free entry as at the time of writing.
Southwestern Alberta: Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo jump, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that teaches about 6000 years of local culture (https://headsmashedin.ca/), is a unique site to both Alberta and the world. The Indigenous populations used the site to chase buffalo over the cliff as part of their hunting practices. Tribal members would then prepare the buffalo meat, bones, and hides for various uses. The centre provides the background on how this was done and why the site was important to the native populations. Performances of First Nations culture are often found on the site in July and August and are posted on the website. The site opens in late May and runs to mid-October. Modest entry fees apply.
Calgary: Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park near Calgary was a traditional bison hunting ground and gathering place for the Siksika people. The park contains six square miles of parkland and hosts a well-respected, 22,000 square-foot interpretive center featuring culture displays, a 90-person theatre, a cafeteria overlooking the Bow River Valley, and a gift shop where visitors may purchase authentic native crafts. The on-site cafeteria offers authentic Blackfoot cuisine and other menu choices. This national heritage site (Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park, Siksika Indian Reserve #146, AB T0J 0S0, Canada https://blackfootcrossing.ca/) has wonderful sunset views in the evening. Contact them for current exhibits and experiences.
Calgary: The Military Museums of Canada (4520 Crowchild Trail SW, Calgary, AB T2T 6E8, Canada) features Canadian military history. The Great Escape during WWII is particularly interesting—the true story, not a Hollywood portrayal. The museum features army, navy, air force, archives, and information on various units. At the time of writing, admission was by donation and the museum is rated 4.8/5 stars on Google. Summer camps and education programs are also available. For details, see https://themilitarymuseums.ca/.
