Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre
Tourism Region: Edmonton Capital Region
© LDOHS, 1997
February 13th, 1947, on a farm just southwest of Edmonton, news of a huge oil strike at Leduc #1 was transmitted around Alberta, Canada and the World. This famous discovery marked the birth of Western Canada's modern oil industry and has been called one of the most important economic discoveries in Canada's history. Today the grit, determination and success of our early oilpatch pioneers are preserved at the Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre with 13 acres outdoors and 23,000 sq.ft. indoors of scale models, fossils, working rigs, antique equipment, machinery, murals, archives, classrooms, theatre and more. A truly unique museum experience!
About the Collections
Oil field equipment and heavy equipment, drilling rigs, scale models, interpretive displays, art work, catalogues, magazines,photographs and hall of fame.
Approximate number of objects in the collections: 20,000
Archives
Expanded Library and Archives in 2006/2007: articles,catalogues,product descriptions, journals, drilling reports, company information, photograph, offshore drilling information,safety manuals, beta tapes and vhs tapes.
Cartographic Materials •
Prints and Drawings •
Films and Videos •
Photographs •
Sound Recordings •
Textual Records
Fine Arts
Art work depicing or inspired by the oil industry. Originals, prints, sculptures and photographs.
Culture:
Canadian
Period:
Contemporary •
Historical
Media:
Painting •
Photography •
Prints and Drawings •
Sculpture
Human History
The stories of oil pioneers is told through biographies in the Hall of Fame Room, Interpretive Tours, Personal recollections, and books.
Agriculture
•
Chemistry
•
Exploration and Survey
•
Industrial Technology and History
•
Local History
•
Maps, Charts, Plans or Blueprints
•
Memorabilia
•
Oral History
•
Transportation
: Motorized ground
Natural Sciences
Core samples, fossils, devonian rock and much more help to tell the story of the origin of oil.
Earth Science and Geological Collections
Minerals •
Rocks •
Drill Cores
Paleontological Collections
Fossil Collections
Services & Activities
Guided tours, interpretive displays, videos, resource library, room rentals, special events, campground and visitor information.
Research Services
On-site noncirculatory resource library.
Archival Records •
Conservation or Restoration •
Films •
Information Centre •
Library •
Video Library
Other: Currently collecting personal histories of oil patch personnel.
Educational Programs
Leduc #1: The Well That Shaped a Province. Grade 4 Social Studies: Topic A: Alberta: It's Geography & People, Topic B: Alberta: Its People in History
Demonstrations
•
Films
•
School Programs
: Age 0-4 (Pre-School)
: Age 5-11 (k-6)
: Age 12-17 (7-13)(Quebec: Secondary 1-CEGEP)
: Age 18 and up (Post-Secondary)
•
Seniors Programs
Other: Apache Junior Roughneck Day Camps enable youth ages 6-12 to discover the exciting science involved in the Energy Industry.
Annual Career Fair hosted each September for post-secondary and high school students, highlight careers and opportunities available in the Energy Industry.
Visitor Services
Gift Shop, Guided Tours for Group Bookings, Library & Archives, Theatre, Wheelchair Access, Bus Turnaround, Tourist Information Centre, Meeting Rooms, Hall, RV Campground with Indoor Showers & Washrooms, Park, Horseshoe Pits, Playground and Picnic Facilities.
Bilingual Services
•
Films and Videos
•
Guided Tours
: English
: French
•
Children's Activities or Services
: Playground
•
Information Centre or Desk
•
Meeting Room Rental
•
Nature Trails, Walks or Gardens
•
Parking Facilities
: Free
: Bus
•
Gift shop
•
Special Needs Facilities
: Parking
: Washrooms
: Wheelchairs available
: Wheelchair access
•
Cloakroom
•
Washrooms
Other Guided Tours: We aim to maintain 30-50% bilingual personnel on staff. Please book ahead to ensure French availability. Also available with pre-booking are tours delivered in German or Dutch.
Volunteer Services
Volunteer Training Offered
Number of Volunteers: 30
Activities: Restoration, touring, education programs, special event hosts, yard and grounds maintenance, rig operation for special events.
Member Privileges
Lifetime Memberships. Quarterly Newsletter. Invitations to Special Events.
Food Services
On-site snacks (chips, chocolate bars & beverages) and picnic area. Special Event rooms are available for groups wishing to arrange catering as part of their tour.
Snack Bar or Vending Machines •
Picnic Area
Other: Although we do not offer catering, we have the contact information for a number of caterers in the area who are familiar with our facility.
Internet Services
General Information •
Collections •
Events •
Education •
School Visits or Programs •
Children •
Directions or Map •
Local History •
Online Giftshop or Bookstore
Local Tourism Links
Local Attractions •
Hotels •
Other Services
Other Services
Meeting Room rental throughout the year, min 5 to a maximum of 40 people- $70.00 for the day.
Banquet Facility suitable for 160 people- $200.00 a day.
Lifetime memberships & volunteer opportunities available.
Wall of Honor- you may purchase a space on the wall to recognize your name or that of a loved one.
Donor Recognition Program for Donations and Sponsorship of the Museum
Publications and Products
The Historical Society produced "Black Gold: A Teacher's Guide"- a guide book to teaching petroleum to the elementary ages.
"Leduc" by geologist Aubrey Kerr, describes in detail the events leading up to the 1947 discovery of oil in Leduc.
"Last Chance Well" by Bea Hunter,is an oral history project telling the stories of oil workers. A number of our Historical Society members were interviewed and recorded for this charming and easy to read publication.
"Roughnecks, Rock Bits and Rigs" by professor Sandy Gow, is currently in its second printing due to high demand. Much of the research for this publication was completed on-site at the Discovery Centre.
All of these publications and more, are available for purchase through our Gift Shop 1-866-987-4323.
Books •
Brochures •
Educational kits •
Magazines •
Newsletters •
Postcards •
Posters •
T-Shirts or Sweatshirts or Caps •
Commemorative Souvenirs
Featured Images
1940s era travelling block, used on conventional drilling rigs.
© LDOHS, 2002
Scale models, such as this one built by Vern Blinn, are on display so visitors can get a close up look at all different types of drilling rigs and their parts.
© LDOHS, 2002
Our Vern Hunter Memorial Library is a reference library containing catalogues, company manuals, history books, drilling reports, environmental information and information on all aspects of the petroleum industry.
© LDOHS, 2002
Two large pieces of Devonian Rock are on display outside of the Interpretive Centre. The rock is an example of the large pinnacle reef formations underground that make the Leduc/Woodbend field so prolific.
© LDOHS, 1997
This 1950's Ideco service rig, owned by Widney Well Service was the first service rig to work in the Leduc/Woodbend Oil Field. Beside it is the famous Leduc #1 pumpjack that produced from 1947-1974.
© LDOHS, 2002
Map
Location
| Address: |
15 minutes southwest of Edmonton at 50339 - Hwy 60 Leduc County, Alberta T9G 2B9 See Map |
|---|---|
| Telephone: | 780-987-4323 |
| Fax: | 780-987-4365 |
| Mailing Address: |
Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre #6-20 Haven Avenue, Devon, Alberta T9G 2B9 |
| Email Us |
Hours of Operation
Operations:
Year Round •
Seasonal
The site is open year round 9:00am-5:00pm.
Closed for ten days at Christmas.
Open: Open seven days/week 9:00am-5:00pm, Year Round.
Closed:
CHRISTMAS: December 23rd, 2006 - January 1st, 2007 Closed For Staff Holidays
Admission:
Charged
Adult - $6
Senior - $5
Youth (6-18) - $4
Child (under 6) - Free
Family (2 adults with accompanying youth) - $15
Discounts:
Seniors
