Our exhibits are arranged around the Village Square. Come in and explore our exhibits to find out what pioneer life was like in Strathcona County.
Train Station
Walk into our train station dating from the early part of the century. You will see artifacts such as a steel overland vestment trunk, telegraph, scissor phone and an old fare box which was used for the first rail cars in Edmonton.
Parlour
c.1900 On special occasions afternoon tea took place in the parlour. Try our CFRN radio station xylophone, used to announce the news casts. Our exhibit features beautifully covered 1898 chairs complimented by a 100 year old exquisitely carved sideboard containing a variety of dining accessories.
Kitchen
c.1910 Step into the kitchen - the most important room in a pioneer home. It was used for cooking, eating, sewing, children playing and family bonding. Our 1910 Home Comfort stove was used by the entire family for cooking and warmth. View a sewing machine donated by the Ottewell family. Our exhibit features many pioneer kitchen artifacts including a 1900 icebox and a washing machine dating back to early in the century.
One Room School
c.1920 Our 1920 grades one to eight schoolroom features double desks with slate boards and single ink well desks all tucked in a row. A science display of various birds, nests and sports equipment is located in the room. The Clover Bar School bell can be viewed and rung.
Church
The church is accented by a stained glass window. This exhibit consists of pioneer items such as a pew from the 1915 Salisbury United Church, an original 1899 Clover Bar Methodist Church cabinet, and a 1901-1905 era pump organ.
Barbershop
c.1924 Our barbershop is modeled after a 1924 Ardrossan barbershop. It includes many hair and shaving utensils and an old barbershop chair.
Country General Store
Our all-in-one store and post office features hardware, kitchenware, clothing, sewing supplies, sweets, flour, tobacco, cocoa, syrups, canned goods and lard. Test out our party line telephone switchboard.
Blacksmith & Woodworking Shop
The most important implement of the blacksmith shop is the forge. See other artifacts such as: horseshoes, anvil, a variety of blacksmith’s hammers and other kinds of tools used in the blacksmith trade. The exhibit features carpenter and cobbler tools of years ago. Examine a foot powered lathe utilized to repair furniture and a sandstone grindstone used to sharpen knives, axes and farm blades. Test out our rope-making machine which makes a variety of ropes.
Dairy Barn
Explore our dairy barn and see a collection of forks, horse bits, saws, dairy farm equipment and a brooder which is used to keep baby chicks warm. George Ottewell originally used the stool and pail to milk the cows. As he had over thirty cows to milk, in 1938 he purchased a milking machine to replace milking by hand.
Grain Elevator
Explore our replica of a grain elevator. You will find a working grain sorter and a collection of items related to growing crops on the western prairie.
First Nations Exhibit
Currently under renovation, our collection includes various Manitou Stones, knives, scrapers, adzes, axes, spears, arrows, hammers, mauls, petroglyphs, pictographs, hoes, gravures, micro blades, and grooving stones. Our Sorenson collection consists of arrowheads such as Clovis Point, (10,000 BP) Agate Basin (6,000 BP), Boss Hill, Scott’s Bluff, McKean (1,700 BP), Duncan (1,700 BP), Hanna (1700 BP), High River (500 AD), Obsidian Point, and Laurel Leaf Points. Our Dunham Collection, which was found on a quarter section of land southeast of Hastings Lake, consists of cutting or scraping tools, and effigy fleshers depicting a wolf’s head and a moose.
Natural History Walk
Marvel at the 1926 butterfly and moth collection, fossils, and dinosaur bones. Learn about birds and mammals during our indoor nature walk.
RCMP Exhibit
A simple, functional jail was originally part of the RCMP Station. Our law enforcement section provides history of policing in Strathcona County including a display about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Firefighting Exhibit
The original Fire Hall was built in 1959 right at the entrance to the Museum. The fire truck was parked where our office is today. The display features numerous items related to our Fire Department.
Bell & Communications
Explore the interactive exhibit which allows you to hear the different telephone bells. Examine our collection of vintage telephones. Follow the phone line on our “How the Telephone Works” display.
Special Exhibit
Visit the Museum and explore our special exhibit room to view displays which change throughout the year. Find out more about our current special exhibit.
