Calgary Museums

Discover “How the West was Once” at Canada’s largest living history museum. This historic park features more than 180 exhibits and 57,000 artefacts including a summer seasonal historical village with an antique midway, old-fashioned bakery and candy store, authentic steam train that circles on one mile of track and horse wagon rides. The Park's friendly and engaging costumed interpreters bring history to life. New and open year-round is the Gasoline Alley Museum, celebrating the introduction of the automobile and the impact that it had on Western society. The museum is home to 50 rare antique vehicles and trucks and the world’s largest public display of petroliana.

Located in the Roundup Centre on Calgary’s Stampede Grounds, the Grain Academy Museum features educational films and working models that explain the process of extracting and harvesting grain. Additional exhibits show how farming was carried out in early Alberta.

The Olympic Hall of Fame and Museum serves to honour the efforts of winter Olympians. The museum’s two floors feature a variety of exhibits and interactive displays including a theatre that plays Olympic footage, a hands-on discovery room, documentaries on many Olympic athletes and more.

The Aero Space Museum features several artifacts that delineate the history of the aviation industry in Calgary from the time that the city’s first airplane was built in 1914. Restoration work of the aircrafts takes place in the hangar – visitors may observe this process daily with the cost of admission.

Cantos Music Foundation has over 400 keyboard instruments and related electronic equipment that traces the evolution of keyboard instruments from the pipe organ to the most modern electronic musical instrument. Public tours are on Sundays at 1:30pm & 3:00pm

The collection held within the Firefighters Museum includes a variety of memorablia from the Calgary Fire Department's history including a Waterous Horse Drawn Pumper that dates back to 1908. Uniforms, photographs and other artifacts are on display. Open during peak tourism season between the months of May and October.

The Naval Museum of Alberta delineates the history of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve. The only three fighter aircraft flown by the Navy are displayed in the museum: Supermarine Seafire, the Hawker Sea Fury and the McDonnell F2H3 Banshee. Other artifacts are also on display including uniforms, models and photographs.

Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame opened in Calgary on Canada Day 2011. Visitors can explore 11 galleries filled with more than 1,000 artefacts, 50 interactives, a 120-seat theatre, an Honoured Member tribute including 514 of Canada's sport legends, and more. Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame is located at Canada Olympic Park and is open Tuesday to Thursday 10am to 5pm, Friday from 10am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm.

The Military Museums is the largest military museum in Western Canada. It was originally opened in 1990 by Queen Elizabeth II. Six galleries (five permanent and one temporary) are housed with the museum, which explain Canada’s efforts and contributions in world-wide peacekeeping. Videos, interactive displays, life size replicas and model re-enactments are located throughout the exhibits. Vintage tanks and carriers are located outside on the museum grounds for viewing. Inquire locally for hours and admission prices.

The Glenbow Musem houses a collection of nearly 30,000 artworks and artifacts including historic, modern and contemporary works. In addition, three floors of the museum feature permament displays of native culture and history, European settlement and the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway. Changing exhibits are on display regularly. The Glenbow is the largest museum in Western Canada. A museum shop, a library, archives and a café are also located within the building.

Owned by the City of Calgary, this art space is an expansive 3,400 sq ft controlled vault environment that houses works by over 260 artists with over 780 pieces. Included in the collection are archival records, decorative arts and crafts, and fine arts from a range of cultures. The museum is open year round and open Monday through Friday from 10am to 5pm and admission is free. Closed stat holidays.

The Nickle Arts Museum is situated on the University of Calgary Campus. It features a variety of historical and contemporary art, temporary exhibitions, as well as a collection of ancient coins. A museum shop is also located on the property.

Learn about the Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians) through military archives from the Boer War straight through to the present day. Along with photographs, medals, manuscripts and maps, a collection of fine arts is also on display. A cafeteria and gift are on site.

The Tsuu T’ina Museum features artifacts that outline more than 100 years of history pertaining to the Sarcee tribe. Head dresses, dating back to 1938, and a model teepee are on display, as well as other artifacts.