ASSINIBOIA - The dedicated volunteers and committee at Assiniboia Heritage Museum work year-round to ensure summer is full of activity and options to tour Assiniboia’s past.
Leading into summer, Sally Svenson, said the museum has hosted 15 activities, that included classroom visits and participation in the Street Market Fair.
Residents and visitors had an excellent opportunity to visit the Story Trail, “If these places could talk”, snapshot of Saskatchewan, which concludes on July 8.
Svenson said a story trail will change every couple of weeks all summer long at their location, and they are appreciative of partnership with Assiniboia and District Public Library in supplying this great summer story activity.
The Adriam Paton photo collection, traveling exhibit, came from partnership with The Saskatchewan Folklore Society and University of Saskatchewan. Paton travelled across the province taking photos about life in Saskatchewan, and includes photos of communities and villages in Assiniboia area.
Svenson said other upcoming activities at the museum include summer camps that will host a variety of sports, games, fun, arts and crafts, the story trail and more.
The museum will play host to the silver, coin and dollar valuation show for adults on July 10 and 11..
“While August dates are not determined, we will be hosting at least one musician/singer with goodies and beverages.”
The most popular attractions are split between the vintage vehicles, vintage ag equipment, the boardwalk, the 1950s kitchen and the safari room.
Svenson added, “The children really enjoy the train, Mini Golf and Archeology dig with the vehicles, equipment and Safari Room being not too far behind one another.”
The vintage classic cars on display have been compared to the Ford Museum in the United States for the size of the town. Museum visitors from Oregon, North Dakota, Montana, North Carolina, and Washington have added their admiration and amazement of this display.
“Another reason for residents to bring their summer guests to the museum? We have added a new Sports exhibit with jerseys, pictures, bats and equipment from Congress, Twilight baseball, Aces, and Stonehenge, plus an over 100-year baseball trophy, 100-year racquet and more,” says Svenson.
The 50th year for the Assiniboia and District Historical Society and Museum will be marked in 2024. Remarkably, there are two volunteers that were part of that original group in 1974 and for that reason alone, people are encouraged to support their community museum as that is one way to show thanks for their dedication in preserving Assiniboia’s history.
As with so many non-profit organizations, challenges remain the rising cost of heat, power and utilities in addition to supplies and trying to bring in travelling exhibits.
The Assiniboia Museum has extended hours Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to noon and one to 7 p.m., along with 10 a.m. to 5p.m. hours on weekends. Advance requests can usually be accommodated for extended hours as well. Summer students keep the place open Monday to Wednesday until 5 p.m. each day.
There is so much history on display that includes history books, family tree histories, pictorial history of the district that includes communities that no longer exist.
Svenson said the addition of the mini golf last year has been well received. A recent donation of an elevator obstacle will soon be added to the course once it been spruced up.
Make the museum one of the things on your to-do list this summer and make sure to bring your summer visitors in for a tour. Take a walk down memory lane while revisiting the past.
