- Cindy64
- First Reviewer
- 4 out of 5
- Avg. Member Rating
- 3
- Reviews
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10
- Photos
Editor Pick
A Museum of Museums
- February 17, 2009
- Rated 3 of 5 by
callen60 from Ozarks, Missouri
It’s hard to imagine now, but this small, attractive wooden building was both on the cutting edge of park museums, and nearly all alone here in the mountains. It now sits surrounded by parking lot, but pictures available at the nearly Museum of the Rockies show it nearly neighborless, with only the mountains for a backdrop. Today, it feels like a sideshow on the edge of ‘downtown’ Banff, well removed from the central hotels and commercial activity, a drive-by destination as people head across the river to the Banff Springs or the Gondola.
It reminded me of The Little House, Virginia Lee Burton’s 1943 Caldecott Medal winning book for children: that pink house began life on an apple-tree covered hill, and watched as the city engulfed it. Inside this house, however, is a look back into what park museums and education used to be. In the words of the ranger on duty, it’s ‘a museum of a museum’, a preservation of what naturalists of a previous era thought was important to communicate to the public.
And what they thought mattered were creatures: hundreds of them, a veritable encyclopedia of the park’s critters, all stuffed, restored, and showcased in a two-story tribute to the taxidermist’s art. It’s an impressive collection, as notable for what it doesn’t contain as for what it does. There’s nothing about geology, about the formation of the Rockies, or even about the habitats and niches formerly occupied by the Museum’s silent residents. I found it hard to pay too much attention after several cases of birds, preferring the large mammals that were clearly the centerpieces of this large collection: bears, mountain goats, bison, elk and others. Several of these species have heads mounted high in the cupola that provided natural light to the collection; that visual cliche only heightened the sense of datedness.
It takes a little bit of effort to appreciate this space for what it is: a cutting edge natural history exhibit from 1910. What’s easier to enjoy are the traces left (or restored from) the building’s occupants: Norman Sanson, who worked here for nearly four decades, and fit in thousands of ascents of nearby Sulphur Mountain to gather meteorological data. His office, and the workroom around the corner, looked as if the occupant’s just stepped out for coffee, and it made me wonder just how their days were filled: hunting down a missing species? Celebrating a full trap? Proudly adding a new denizen to one of the cases below?
The building itself must look nearly as it did at the grand opening in 1903. The most recent restoration was completed five years ago, following the failure of one of the original trusses. That work left the interior in beautiful shape, and evidently left it closer to the original appearance. It’s built of Douglas Fir in an attractive cross-log construction, and the high ceiling allows plenty of windows that keep it naturally well lit (an important consideration given its frontier location). The Reading Room on the building’s north side is lovely, and holds a small library of materials on natural history, magazines on geology, wildlife and other relevant subjects, and maps and materials on the history of Banff, Alberta, and the Canadian northwest. This part alone is worth the modest admission price.
Visiting here won’t take a lot of time, but between the impressive collection and the beautiful architecture, it’s probably worth 30-45 minutes of your time in Banff. I’d be surprised if you don’t agree that, like Virginia Burton’s Little House, this small museum would be happier if someone picked it up and moved it deeper in the mountains, as well as back in time.
Admission
Admission for adults is $3.90; seniors $3.40 and youth $1.90. The Museum is also part of the Banff Heritage Pass, which includes the nearby Whyte Museum of the Rockies, and the Cave and Basin Historic Site across and down the Bow River. If you visit all three, the $10.50 Heritage Pass will save an adult about $4 and a senior about $3. It can be purchased at any of the sites, and includes a discounted admission to the Buffalo Nations Museum.
From journal Winter in Canada's Rockies
Banff National Park
- August 14, 2003
- Rated 5 of 5 by
madaunt from Vancouver, British Columbia
This is a huge park with mountains, forests, meadows, rivers, streams, lakes, and many, many wild animals. We spent part of every day of our one-week holiday in this park and saw new things every time we went there. There are organized activities at different times of the year and the park information stations have plenty of literature, schedules, and announcements. Along with all the natural wonders, there are also lots of modern amenities such as restaurants and clean restrooms. We didn't camp here, but other tourists told us that it is an excellent facility for tenting, too.
From journal Alpine April--A wonderful week in Banff
Banff Park Museum National Historic Site
- September 28, 2002
- Rated 3 of 5 by
Cindy64 from Edmond, Oklahoma
If you have ever wondered how museums have changed over the years, this is the place to go. This 1903 museum is a classic example of the way museums were built in the early 20th century. It looks as if very little has changed since it first opened its doors and that is what makes it so fascinating. The shelves are lined with taxidermied animals of all types, birds, bears, elk, bobcats, and more.
We liked it.
From journal Beautiful Banff