Museums of Banff and the Rockies by K Gordon Schultz February 26, 2009 written by K Gordon Schultz February 26, 2009 0 comment 0FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail 884 Table of Contents Banff National Park MuseumsBanff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada Bankhead, Ghost-TownBuffalo Nations Luxton MuseumCanada PlaceCanadian Ski Museum WestCascades of Time GardensCave and Basin National Historic Site of CanadaSulphur Mountain Cosmic Ray Station National Historic Site of CanadaWhyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies Banff National Park Museums 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 0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail K Gordon Schultz K Gordon Schultz is a well-known figure in the golf community and currently serves as the President of the Canmore Golf & Curling Club in Canmore, Alberta, Canada. He brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, having spent many years working in the golf industry. Schultz has been a member of the Canmore Golf & Curling Club for over 40 years and has been actively involved in the club’s operations since he joined. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2001, becoming Club President in 2005. In 2019, he was acclaimed as Club Vice-President, assuming the role of Club President again in 2022. In addition to his work at the Canmore Golf & Curling Club, Schultz is also an avid traveler. He has visited over 30 countries around the world, on all continents. But his most enjoyable travel experiences have come from within Canada, visiting many of Canada's National Parks including Banff National Park, Yoho National Park, Jasper National Park, Kootenay National Park, Grasslands National Park, Mount Revelstoke National Park and Pacific Rim National Park. Along with golf, he enjoys scuba diving, biking, hiking and relaxing with a fine Pinot Noir. previous post Extreme Adventures in Canada’s National Parks next post Travelling on a Budget: Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia You may also like Explore Banff’s Cultural Heritage: A Comprehensive Guide October 9, 2023 Archeology in Banff National Park December 29, 2010 Whyte Museum – Canadian Rockies December 29, 2010 Cave and Basin National Historic Site December 28, 2010 Canadian Ski Museum West December 28, 2010 Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum December 28, 2010 Banff Park Museum, Alberta December 28, 2010