Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

Location: 111 Bear St, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Operating Hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Admission Cost: $12 CAD ($10 USD) for adults, $10 CAD ($8 USD) for and students, and free for children under 12 years old and are valid for 90 days from purchase.

The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies showcases the art, culture, and history of the Canadian Rockies region. It features a diverse collection of artwork, historical photographs, and artifacts that highlight the natural beauty and human stories of the area. In addition, the museum also offers educational programs, exhibitions, and events throughout the year. 

Allow yourself at least one hour to enjoy everything the museum has to offer. However, many of the special programs and exhibits may entice you to linger a bit longer. When planning your itinerary, schedule an arrival no later than 4:15 PM. You will be required to check any large personal bags when you arrive.  Please check all backpacks and large bags upon arrival. Children under twelve are welcome but must be in the company of a supervising adult. 

Current Exhibits

Tom Willock: Celebrating an Exceptional Photographer

October 20, 2023 – January 19, 2024

This photographic exhibit, which runs until mid-January 2024, highlights the beauty of the natural world as seen through the eyes of photographer Tom Willock. Tom Willock, a natural historian and photographer, chronicles the nature of Southern Alberta in beautiful black-and-white, selenium-toned photographs. Dawn Mist Falls, one of the cornerstone pieces of the exhibition, required Tom to spend days wandering through waterways and forests to capture the perfect marriage of light and leaves. Tom’s work also features images of the familiar sweeping mountainscapes like those witnessed by visitors to Banff National Park. 

​Bow Biennial: Four Unique Perspectives

October 20, 2023 – January 19, 2024

The Bow Biennial has been relaunched in 2023 after a pandemic pause. Traditionally, this event takes place every two years, shining a spotlight on the Banff community. This season it focuses on the work of four talented artists from the Alberta region: Amy Dryer, Wanda Ellerbeck, Barb Fyvie, and Eileen Murray. Each of these artists displays a unique method of artistic creation while sharing a unified sense of their surroundings in the Canadian Rockies. 

Banff Park Museum National Historic Site

Location: 91 Banff Ave, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Operating Hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Admission Cost: $4.90 CAD ($4 USD) for adults, $4.40 CAD ($3.50 USD) for adults 65 and over, and free for youth under 17 years old

The Banff Park Museum is a historic site featuring a collection of over 5,000 specimens of wildlife, including birds, mammals, insects, and plants. The museum building itself is a charming log cabin, dating back to 1903. It is considered one of the oldest natural history museums in Western Canada. Visitors can explore the exhibits and learn about the diverse flora and fauna of the region, connecting them on another level to the nature they will experience on the trails of Banff National Park. 

Current Exhibits

Mountains of Change Exhibit

Through 2023

Climate change affects many things—including the landscape of Banff National Park. As the climate warms, many familiar attractions in the park are undergoing a transformation. The Mountains of Change Exhibit uses science to educate visitors on the effect climate change has on Canada’s national parks and the profound facelift the area in and around the Canadian Rockies is experiencing as a result. The exhibit also explores the proactive steps Canada is taking to preserve precious natural resources and ecosystems so both Canadians and visitors can continue to enjoy the beauty of the parks for generations to come.

The Xplorers Club

Ongoing

The Banff Park National Museum offers a fantastic opportunity to get kids excited about the natural history of the Canadian Rockies—The Xplorers Club. 

Designed for kids between 6-11 years old, this program provides participants with an Xplorers booklet packed with engaging activities designed to pique youngsters’ curiosity and educate them about Banff National Park in a fun, exciting way. The activities can be completed in different areas and locations around the park—including the museum!

Children can try their skills in completing a jigsaw puzzle. They can become detectives and try to locate Norman Bethune Sanson, the famous former curator of the museum. They can even explore the Bow River to complete an exciting scavenger hunt. Six completed activities earn participants an official Xplorers certificate and a special Parks Canada souvenir.

Young or old, there’s so much to see at the Banff Park National Museum, including lifelike specimens of local wildlife—cougars, elk, bears, and bighorn sheep—and native plants. There is even an Interactive Discovery Room where visitors can get hands-on with local fossils and preserved furs. Visit the Banff Park National Museum, and enter the rustic, historic log structure in the middle of Banff to explore two stories of exhibits.

Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum

Location: 1 Birch Ave, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Operating Hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Admission Cost: $12 CAD ($10 USD) for adults, $10 CAD ($8 USD) for adults 65 and older and students, and free for children under 12 years old

The Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum celebrates the heritage and culture of the Indigenous peoples of the Canadian Rockies. The museum features exhibits that showcase the history, art, and traditions of the First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. Visitors can learn about the significance of buffalo in Indigenous cultures and gain a deeper understanding of the region’s rich Indigenous heritage.

Canada House Gallery

Location: 201 Bear St, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Operating Hours: Open daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Admission: Free

Canada House Gallery is a renowned art gallery that showcases contemporary and traditional Canadian artwork. The gallery features a diverse collection of paintings, sculptures, and other artistic mediums created by Canadian artists. Visitors can explore the gallery and appreciate the talent and creativity of Canadian art.

Current Exhibitions

2023 Annual Print Collection from Cape Dorset

The Canada House Gallery proudly brings back the Annual Cape Dorset Print Collection. Kinngait Studios and West Baffin Eskimo Co-operative in Cape Dorset uses bold, bright colors. They also reflect many images and symbols that invoke the indigenous spirit of the people . Visitors to the gallery can view works and even purchase favorite pieces. Bring home a beautiful reminder of their visit to Banff National Park.

Walter Phillips Gallery

Location: 107 Tunnel Mountain Dr, Banff, Alberta, Canada

Operating Hours: Varies

Admission: Free

The Walter Phillips Gallery is part of the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. It focuses on contemporary art exhibitions and installations. The gallery showcases works by local, national, and international artists, providing a platform for innovative and thought-provoking artistic expressions. The exhibitions change regularly, offering visitors a chance to experience a wide range of contemporary art forms.

Current Exhibitions

In the Present Moment: Buddhism, Contemporary Art, and Social Practice

Wednesday – Sunday | 12:30 pm – 5:00 pm

September 15 – December 13, 2023

In the Present Moment: Buddhism, Contemporary Art, and Social Practice explores how Buddhism is influencing some North American artists in their practice—how materials are viewed, how art is conceptualized, and how it is created. 

Canmore Museum and Geoscience Centre

Location: 902B 7th Ave, Canmore, AB T1W 3K1, Canada

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Thursday-Monday)

Entrance Fee: Donations Accepted

Exhibits: Located just outside Banff in the town of Canmore, this museum focuses on the history, culture, and geology of the Canadian Rockies. Visitors can explore exhibits on mining, mountaineering, indigenous culture, and the region’s unique geology. The museum tells the story of Canmore through works of art, historical objects, and special events that help enrich your Alberta experience.

Ongoing Exhibitions

Art That Captures the Historical Landscapes of Canmore and the Bow Valley 

The art displayed in the Canmore Museum and Geoscience Center captures the various landscapes of Canmore and the Bow Valley—and it’s not all sweeping mountain vistas and sloping valleys. Through a carefully curated collection of imagery, the museum chronicles 150 years of Canmore’s buildings, natural landscapes, and industrial progress in various mediums. See the different ways that artists have interpreted these images, choosing everything from realism to modernism.

Canmore Past on Display

Connect with Canmore’s past and see how mountain life has evolved in the area over the years with the Canmore Museum’s impressive display of historical objects. The inclusive collection contains objects from historic settlements and the immigrant experience. Visitors can see items from daily life and experience how wartime affected the area’s inhabitants. There is also a detailed display chronicling Canmore’s honor as the 1988 host of the 1988 Winter Olympics.

Survival in Paradise: Coal Mining in Canmore

Canmore is a town built on coal. The exhibit combines digital technology with an array of physical paraphernalia to detail the area’s relationship to mining. Visitors will not only learn about the brave men who ventured into the belly of Canmore mines—they can also experience it themselves via the museum’s interactive, virtual reality display. Narrated by veteran coalminers Ernie Lakusta and Ed Latvala and surrounded by realistic sights and sounds, museum-goers can truly get a sense of what it was like to labor in Canmore’s No. 2 mine.

Special Exhibits and Events

Along with the regular, ongoing exhibits in and around Banff, there are several special museum events and programs to celebrate the spooky season and the spirit of the indigenous people of the Canadian Rockies. 

Spooks and Stories at the Barracks

Location: NWMP Barracks 609 8th Street, Canmore, Alberta, Canada

Date: October 28, 2023, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Cost: Free, but registration is required

Looking for something fun to do with the kids this spooky season? Take them to the NWMP Barracks branch of the Canmore Museum and Geoscience Museum for a spooktacular Halloween Party. Participants will have the opportunity to swap spooky stories, do a make-and-take craft, play slightly scary games, and be a part of the costume party. All kids are welcome, but must bring a responsible adult. Register online.

Wagichibi Îhnuthe: Dance Regalia Of The Îyârhe Stoney Nakoda

Through January 18, 2024, the Wagichibi Îhnuthe share their own story of the Îyârhe Stoney Nakoda. A celebration of the cultural traditions of the people, visitors will gain an appreciation for the dance, regalia, and ceremony of this First Nations group as members recount tales of historical performances at the Banff Springs Hotel in 1894, Norman Luxton’s support of indigenous people through the promotion of Banff Indian Days, the cultural exchange and immersion of Guy Weadick’s Calgary Stampede, and a recounting of the competitive powwows at Mînî Thnif. Guests can also explore Îyârhe Stoney Nakoda artifacts and regalia of the people. 

Beading Workshop With Teresa Snow

On November 5, 2023, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, guests can practice the art of beading with Teresa Snow. Learn the intricate techniques of the Stoney Nakoda art form used to embellish clothing, create beautiful works of art, and more. Participants will also learn the history of design and discover the different types of beadwork, including the different types of stitches as they create their own beadwork. No supplies are required. Everything you need is provided. However, participants must be at least 8 years old. Registration for this event is $50 CAD ($68.31 USD) for museum members and $60 CAD ($81.97 USD) for nonmembers.

Mountain Galleries at the Fairmont Banff Springs

Location: 405 Spray Ave, Banff, AB T1L 1J4, Canada

Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM -10:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Entrance Fee: Free

Exhibits: Situated within the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, this gallery showcases a collection of Canadian and international art. Visitors can admire stunning landscapes, wildlife paintings, and sculptures that capture the beauty of the Canadian Rockies and beyond.

Until January 1, 2024, visitors to the Mountain Galleries at the Fairmont Banff Springs can witness the splendor of the Canadian Rockies without the need to bundle up. Inside the famous Fairmont Hotel, known as “the Castle of the Rockies,” guests can stroll through the exclusive collection which rotates regularly, and witness gorgeous art, many created by Canadian artists like Dalyn Berryman, an artist who works with natural materials. Dalyn seeks to honor the forests, especially those affected by logging practices, through her haunting driftwood sculptures. Many pieces feature the natural beauty of the Banff National Park and its vast wilderness. Should you find a piece that speaks to you, all pieces are available for purchase. 

The Historic Luxton Home Museum

Location: 206 Beaver St, Banff, AB T1L 1B4, Canada

Opening Hours:

Entrance Fee: Donation

Exhibits: Visitors to the Luxton Museum will enjoy a stroll through the manicured gardens outside and marvel at the extensive collection of First Nations artifacts, period furniture and china, and much more.

The Historic Luxton Home Museum immerses visitors in the life of the historically prominent Luxton family. The Luxtons were a true Banff pioneer family. Norman Luxton and his families were fierce advocates for Banff, befriending many First Nations people and encouraging visitors to experience “the playground of the Canadian Rockies”. The family home and gardens have been meticulously preserved, telling a ninety-year story of the Luxton legacy.

Wildlife Interpretive Centre

Location: 1 Whitehorn Road, Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada, T0L 1E0

Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Opens November 10, 2023)

Entrance Fee: Free with the purchase of a lift pass

If you’re taking advantage of the winter activities in Lake Louise, be sure to tack on a visit to the Wildlife Interpretive Centre. Just ten minutes away from the crest of the Banff gondola, the Centre contains many engaging and exciting exhibits about Banff’s local wildlife. Visitors will find a combination of physical and digital displays, the helpful and informative staff also provides detailed wildlife talks twice a day.  The Wildlife Interpretive Centre is a fantastic, educational family attraction. Kids will delight in the opportunity to feel real animal pelts and animal skulls along with some replica animal poop, and gain a deeper appreciation for the world around them. We’ve even got some eco-friendly ways to entertain your kids and continue to build their awareness after your visit.

All in the Wild

Location: 105 Banff Ave, Banff, Alberta, T1L 1B6 

Opening Hours: Monday – Thursday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM; Friday – Sunday 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Banff National Park can boast about a number of things—stunning natural landscapes, mountains teeming with a variety of wildlife, and talented artists to capture it all. All in the Wild features the world of one of these incredible artists, Jason Leo Bantle. Founded in 2000, this Canadian-owned company runs five year-round galleries and two seasonal galleries. 

Bantle is a staunch supporter of the wildlife that lives in and around Banff National Park. As such, a portion of the proceeds from every photograph sold goes to the All in the Wild Mand Fund. This fund is employed to protect the beautiful natural lands that so many visitors come to enjoy on their visits to Banff. Bantle hopes his art will help share the company’s motto to respect nature and share its beauty,

Banff Public Art

Banff National Park has many stellar galleries and museums to help you appreciate the life and culture of the Canadian Rockies. However, in Banff itself, you don’t even need a museum. The art is right out in the open!

Banff boasts several public art installations in various locations throughout the townsite. Banff prides itself on its Public Art Project, which commissions a selected artist to create a piece for public display. This year’s chosen artist is Tiffany Shaw. 

The Banff Community Art Committee believes that art interacts with its environs to enhance the space, provide an outlet for new ideas and concepts, as well as strengthen the sense of community and identity. Spend a day strolling through town and take in the great “art-doors”. You can find installations at the following locations:

• Mistahiya, Stewart Steinhauer (2000), Whyte Museum Exterior

• Sleeping Buffalo, Stewart Steinhauer (2000), Banff Central Park

• Thunderbird, Stewart Steinhauer (2000), Bear Street and Lynx Intersection

• Four Ravens, Eric Robertson (2005), Banff World Heritage Square

• Mountain Camp, Susan Detwiler (2008), Elk Street and Banff Avenue

• When I Close My Eyes, Sheila Kernan (2013), Bear Street Mall Wall

• River Ribbon, Alexander Caldwell (2017), Bow River Trail 

Banff and its surrounding areas offer a treasure trove of museums that provide a deeper understanding of the region’s history, art, and indigenous culture. From the Whyte Museum’s art and photography collections to the Banff Park Museum’s natural history displays to the public art on Bear Street, each museum, galley, and installation offers a unique perspective on the Canadian Rockies. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, art lover, or simply curious about the region’s heritage, these spots are a must-visit during your time in Banff. So, plan your itinerary, immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage, and embark on an unforgettable journey through Banff’s art scene.

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In a very real sense, Banff National Park is one huge museum. Think about it: not only has it been set aside because of its natural beauty and sensitive ecology, but to preserve the history of the region.

Humans have been enjoying the natural beauty and bounty of the land encompassed by Banff National Park and the Canadian Rockies for more than 10,000 years. For millenia people have been living in and traversing the valleys, passes and high alpine areas of Banff National Park — from the First Nations peoples to its current residents today.

There are hundreds of archaeological sites scattered throughout the scenic acres that comprise the park, including 416 aboriginal sites and 309 historic sites (17 sites have both components), according to Parks Canada. Most of these are in the main river valleys, but traces of prehistoric occupation have been found throughout the Park, including the high alpine areas.

What makes a site an archeological site? By definition it is a place where past human activity has left physical traces. These traces can be artifacts, such as arrowheads or other tools; traces left by food processing such as butchered animal bones; or they can be features, such as hearths or historic structures.

Examples of historic sites in Banff National Park include:

• the remains of the coal mining towns of Anthracite and Bankhead, found along the Lake Minnewanka loop
• cabins in the back country
• historic dumps

Prehistoric sites include:

• campsites
• butchering sites
• quarries where native people found raw materials for making stone tools
• depressions left in the ground from construction of pithouses
• places where isolated artifacts such as arrowheads or scrapers are found

Sites in the Vermilion Wetlands area have been dated to 10,800 years ago. These are among the oldest sites known in Western Canada, according to Parks Canada. The Bow River Valley, in the area near Banff town, contains sites with dates ranging from this period to the time that Europeans and Canadians began to arrive and irrevocably change the lifestyle of native peoples.

Visiting Historic and Archaeological Sites: Look But You Better Not Touch

Seriously: act like they are covered in poison ivy. As Parks Canada says, the original context of a site or artifact is vital to understanding its importance. Leave it where you found it; don’t disturb the site. Bring it to the attention of a park warden or other parks staff, and be prepared to tell them where you found it and be as accurate as possible.

Ideally, if you have a camera handy, take a photo of the item or site, showing it in relation to the general area, or mark the location on a map. Every piece of information you can provide will add to the knowledge of Banff‘s archeology and history.

Furthermore, cultural and natural resources are protected by law in the park; please do not disturb them. As well, provincial laws protect archaeological resources. Should you find something outside the park, please notify the Archaeological Survey of Alberta at the Provincial Museum of Alberta.

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Founded by renowned alpine artists Catharine and Peter Whyte, this museum that bears their name offers exhibits exploring the history and culture of Banff, Canada and the surrounding region of the Canadian Rockies, including natural history, human history and art.

In addition to its galleries which celebrate historical and contemporary Canadian art, the Whyte also sponsors heritage homes, guided walks and tours, public programs and archives and library.

Special activities include:

• annual Back to Banff open house
• guided heritage home tours
• Thursday Night @ the Whyte, including evening hours and regular presentations
• Behind the Scenes tours
• family and kids programming
• school programs
• Whyte Christmas Open House

The museum and gift shop are open 10 a.m – 5 p.m. daily, and are closed Christmas and New Years Day. The library and archives are open Monday – Friday, 1 – 5 p.m. and are closed for federal holidays. The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies is located at 111 Bear Street, near the intersection of Buffalo Street — and a quick walk to the Banff Park Museum.

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Bring the family here to see where it all began. “Here” being the Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada, which commemorates where it all began in 1885 — the geographical birthplace of Canada’s National Park System.

In 1883 three railway workers discovered warm water springs on this site on the side of Sulphur Mountain above what would become the town of Banff, which led to the establishment of a reserve around the hot springs in 1885. Two years later the Canadian government made the area a national park – the country’s first. That park would go on and grow into what we know today as Banff National Park in Canada’s Rocky Mountains, encompassing Lake Louise to the north as well.

The Cave and Basin site marks the growth and development of Canada’s national parks with interactive displays, exhibits, and interpretive trails. Naturally-occurring, warm mineral springs can be found inside the cave, and outside in an emerald colored basin. The site also features:

• the cave, including its interior pool and the original vent hole.
• the basin, the open air mineral pool with the mats of different color algae growing in the mineral-rich waters. Here you’ll also find the rare and endangered Banff springs snails in their ative habitat (please observe them but otherwise please leave them alone)
• interactive exhibits
• interpretive walks and boardwalks in the woods and marshes nearby
• interpretive panels describing the World War 1 internment camp that was placed here
• a gift shop and snack bar

Cave and Basin National Historic Site is located at the west end of Cave Avenue in Banff, Canada.

Winter Hours (October through mid-May):
11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday – Friday
9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with a weekend guided tour 11 a.m.
Closed December 25th

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Okay, did you really think that we could talk about the history and culture of Banff, Canada, Banff National Park, the province of Alberta, and the Canadian Rockies without talking about skiing?

Of course not.

Skiing, snowboarding and Banff go together like peanut butter and jelly – downhill skiing, cross-crountry skiing, boarding – it’s kinda our thing. It’s what we do here when the temperature drops and the snow falls. So when you’re not out hitting the slopes or relaxing after in a luxury resort, Visit the Canadian Ski Museum West.

This is a free exhibit housed within Cascade Plaza in downtown Banff that demonstrates the history of skiing in Banff National Park. The exhibits range from artistic focal points to informative displays. The history unfolds chronologically from the lower level of the plaza up to the second level. Cascade Plaza is at 317 Banff Avenue.

And there is no excuse for not finding Cascade Plaza; it’s the biggest shopping mall in Banff town with a host of shops and restaurants. So bring along the kids and the spouse — while you indulge your interesting in the history of skiing, Banff National Park, Alberta and the Canadian Rockies, there will be plenty of other things for them to do — like shopping and dining!

Of course if you need to learn more about skiing in and around Banff and Lake Louise, just follow that link.

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While we in modern times tend to think of the beauty of Banff National Park and other parts of Western Canada and the Canadian Rockies as having been “discovered” a few centuries ago, there have been people living here much longer than that – many centuries before European explorers and settlers arrived.

When those people did arrive, they found many cultures rich in elaborate ceremonies, dances, songs, and legends associated with the spirit world and the cycles of nature.

The Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum is dedicated to the appreciation, interpretation, and demonstration of the cultures, traditions, and values of these aboriginal peoples – the more than 600 groups native to the Northern Plains and Canadian Rockies – the so-called First Nations people of North America.

The museum’s goal is to illustrate how the people of this land lived and adapted to their surroundings and each other prior to and after contact with European culture. From richly ornamented costumes to a beautifully decorated teepee, from colorful quill-work to hunting equipment, the museum displays a wealth of native arts and traditions from daily life. It is a cultural display that celebrates the richness, diversity, continuity and, above all, the resilience of the native peoples of this area, according to the museum.

The Luxton Museum houses a collection of Plains First Nations cultural history artifacts. These include examples of:

• Decorative Arts – The museum houses a collection of love flutes, hide and textile costumes, pottery and painted and beaded textiles.
• Fine Arts – The museum houses a small but significant collection of historical and contemporary paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture and photography.
• Culture
• Period History
• Media including painting, photography, prints and drawings, and sculpture
• Human History – these include ceremonial objects such as costumes and accessories; currency, household objects or domestic technology;photographs; examples of industrial technology and history such as maps, charts, plans or blueprints; musical instruments; toys and games; transportation; and weapons
• Natural Sciences
• Earth Science and Geological Collections
• Other: spear points

Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum is another excellent option if you’re looking for things to do in Banff for the entire family. Kids love tales of aboriginal peoples and will be fascinated at the glimpses they can get into these ancient cultures. Plus they will be excited the moment you pull into the parking lot; the museum resembles an old wooden frontier fort.

The museum is located along the Bow River, across from Banff town’s Central Park and is open all year, seven days a week.

Summer Hours: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., May – early October
Winter Hours: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., early October – April

Admission fees are required.

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Looking for things to do in Banff with the whole family? You can’t go wrong with The Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada. You can promise the kids that they will get to see plenty of wildlife, up close — and learn a lot about history, biology, and ecology of Banff, Alberta, and the Canadian Rockies.

Banff Park Museum is not only a museum of the Canadian Rockies, though, but a testament to the scientific methods and approaches of the naturalists and wildlife biologists of the 19th and early 20th century – not to mention taxidermy.

The collection of wildlife specimens at the museum began in 1895 with the Geographical Survey of Canada’s presentation of more than 1,300 samples of mammals, birds, wood, plants and minerals – said to be a nearly complete representation of the birds and flowering plants found within Banff National Park, in addition to the other animals. The collection grew until 1932; today Banff National Park Museum houses more than 5,000 specimens characteristic of early museum practices.

Some of the exhibits themselves are of specific historical interest; the museum is the final resting place for the infamous Black Grizzly of Whiskey Creek. More than of just historical interest, the Banff Park Museum also illustrates how our attitudes towards wildlife have changed over the years. The naturalists that helped collect the museum’s specimens might be surprised to learn how behavior modification – rather than the shotgun — is being used to help people and bears coexist in peace.

The museum building itself is of historic interest, particularly for architecture buffs, and is consequently a National Historic Site. This log structure was built in 1903 specifically for the park, and is the largest and most elaborate example of the early phase of park design (as far as man-made structures), utilizing decorative cross-log construction.

The museum is easy to find in the center of the town on the west side of Banff Avenue, backing onto Central Park just before you reach the bridge across the Bow River. To enter the museum you will be asked to pay a small fee for entrance; the fees go to helping maintain the museum.

Banff National Park and Historic Site is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from mid-May to late September; the rest of the time it is open in the afternoons from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed December 25th.

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Banff is proud home to a host of museums that are only too happy to share the wealth of Banff’s history with visitors. From dinosaurs to paintings, it has everything for the days when you are not hitting the slopes. Here are but a few.

Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada

This is one of Canada’s oldest and greatest natural history museums. The old architecture in itself is a vision back to what Banff once was. One of the highlights is the early natural history interpretation of Banff’s many mammals, birds and insects. The curator at the museum for over 30 years, Norman Sanson has personally collected thousands and thousands of specimens in an effort to make this museum the best of its kind in Canada and a fine job he has done too.

Address:
91 Banff Ave.
PO Box 900
Banff, AB   T1L 1A9

Phone: 403-762-1558
Fax: 403-762-1565
Email: ted@canadianrockiestravel.ca

Hours: Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada
Summer
15 May – 30 Sept
daily 1000 – 1800

Bankhead, Ghost-Town

Bankhead was once considered to be the most modern town in Alberta, easily outdoing Banff. At its peak, this mine employed 300 men and produced half a million tons of coal a year – a remarkable sum in the early 1900’s. However, by 1922, the profits were down, the miners were on strike and the mines were abruptly shut down.

Today, it really feels like a ghost town. An easy 1.1 km loop trail leads through the ruins of the coal mining operation with plaques explaining what once stood there. A few ruins of the residential area of Bankhead are located in the Upper Bankhead picnic area. A highlight is following the abandoned Bankhead railway line to the beautiful Cascade ponds day use area 2.5 km away. A very different kind of museum.

Address:
Located on Lake Minnewanka Rd, 7.4 km from Banff
PO Box 900
Banff, AB   T1L 1K2

Phone: 403-762-1550
Fax: 1-403-762-1551

Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum

This is a museum dedicated to the resilience of the Fist Nations People. Everything from ornamented costumes to beautifully decorated tipi’s, from colorful quill work to hunting equipment, the Museum displays a wealth of Native artifacts and collections.

Address:

1 Birch Ave.
PO Box 850
Banff, AB   T1L 1A8

Phone: 403-762-2388
Fax: 403-760-2803
Email: ted@canadianrockiestravel.ca

Canada Place

Celebrate the accomplishments of Canada’s land and owners. Discover again the new frontiers discovered by early explorers to the new frontiers of space. This is a great museum for all ages and people. Even the younger ones will enjoy what the museum has to offer with modern touch-screen technology and even a computer game to play called Canucklehead.

Address:
101 Mountain Ave.,
Park Administration Building
Banff, AB   T1L 1K2

Phone: 403-760-1338
Email: ted@canadianrockiestravel.ca

Hours: May 17 – Sept. 28, 2008
Daily 1000 – 1800

Canadian Ski Museum West

The Canadian Ski Museum is FREE! If that’s not enough of a reason to visit, then there is also a host of information about the history of skiing in Banff National Park.

Address:
Cascade Plaza, 317 Banff Ave.,
PO Box 2380
Banff, AB   T1L 1C1

Phone: 403-762-8484
Fax: 403-7624221
Email: ted@canadianrockiestravel.ca

Cascades of Time Gardens

Incredibly, this museum has been around since 1936. During summer, particularly, it really comes to life with gorgeous paths through terraced gardens and an array of over 50,000 flowers. Assuming you don’t have terrible hay fever, this is a really great day out.

Address:
101 Mountain Ave.
PO Box 900
Banff, AB   T1L 1K2

Phone: 403-762-1550
Fax: 403-762-1551
Email:

Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada

This sensational place was the first step to the discovery of Banff National Park in 1885. Today, the original bathing pavilion, emerald coloured Cave and Basin springs, exhibits and guided tours recount the fascinating history of discovery and former splendour of the site. There are also opportunities to discover the original cave openings which lie exactly as they did centuries before.

Phone: 403-762-1566
Fax: 403-762-1565
Email: ted@canadianrockiestravel.ca

Hours: Summer
15 May – 30 Sept
daily 0900 – 1800

Winter
01 Oct – 14 May
weekdays 1100 – 1600
weekends 0930 -1700

Sulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site of Canada

The Sulphur Mountain cosmic ray station was part of the International Geophysical Year (1957-1958); a major undertaking to study cosmic rays involving 66 countries, 99 stations worldwide and a dozen scientific disciplines. It is one of the few of its kind in North America. The station closed in 1978 and was dismantled in 1981 but it is still a great site to visit.

Address:
Top of Sulphur Mountain
PO Box 900
Banff, AB T1L 1K2

Phone: 403-762-1550
Toll Free: 403-762-1551

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

This is where you want to go to learn about art, culture and the human and natural history of the Canadian Rockies. As one of the more popular stops for tourists around Banff, it has a few more facilities than its peers.

Admission: Adults $6.00, Over 65 & Students $3.50, Families (2 adults, 2 children) $15.00, Children under 6 are free

Address:
111 Bear St.
PO Box 160
Banff, AB   T1L 1A3

Phone: 403-762-2291
Fax: 403-762-8919
Email: ted@canadianrockiestravel.ca

Hours: Open Daily 10 AM – 5 PM
Archives and Library: Open 1 – 5 PM, Monday to Friday

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