Curatorial Centre

Tourism Region: Heart of Canada's Old North West

The Saskatchewan Western Development Museum (WDM), is the museum of social and economic history for the province of Saskatchewan. It is a network of four exhibit branches in the cities of Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Saskatoon, Yorkton, with a Curatorial Centre in Saskatoon. The Curatorial Centre coordinates Curatorial services for the exhibit branches. It also provides centralized storage for artifacts not on exhibit.

About the Collections

Extensive agricultural and transportation collections, as well as large collection of household artifacts.The permanent collection consists of artifacts significant to the social and economic development of Western Canada, with an emphasis on Saskatchewan; artifacts, numbering approximately 70,000, date from the mid-1800s to the present; an eclectic collection ranging from 75-tonne steam-locomotives through decades of agricultural equipment to everyday household and personal items; significant strengths in the collection include one of the largest Canadian museum assemblages of farm power units, a varied selection of aircraft including significant examples used in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, an extensive textile holding, and a collection of more than 100 quilts; in addition, the museum houses a substantial range of reference material in its George Shepherd Library

Approximate number of objects in the collections: 70,000

Archives

Reference library contains extensive holdings of trade literature related to the agricultural and transportation collections; also contains a photograph collection.

Films and Videos • Photographs • Textual Records

Decorative Arts

Costumes • Textiles or Tapestries

Human History

Agriculture • Animal Husbandry • Astronomy • Ceremonial Objects • Clocks or Time-Keeping Devices • Communications Devices • Computing Technology • Costumes and Accessories • Electricity • Forestry • Furniture or Furnishings • Household Objects or Domestic Technology • Imaging : Film History and Technology : Photographs • Industrial Technology and History • Local History • Maps, Charts, Plans or Blueprints • Medals • Medical History and Technology • Military History and Technology • Musical Instruments • Printing and Bookbinding • Religious or Liturgical Objects • Sports Equipment • Toys and Games • Transportation : Aviation : Marine : Motorized ground : Non-motorized ground : Railway • Weapons
Other: steam and gas tractors

Services & Activities

Public activities take place at the four themed exhibit branches, which include the WDM History of Transportation (Moose Jaw), the WDM Heritage Farm and Village (North Battleford), the WDM 1910 Boomtown (Saskatoon) and the WDM Story of the People (Yorkton); numerous major and minor public events include "Chautauqua," "Those Were the Days," "Pion-Era" and the Threshermen's Show and Seniors' Festival; education programs include curriculum-approved "Christmas 1910" for Grade 3 and the Grade 4 Threshing Demonstration; all four branches operate gift shops; three branches support various combinations of rental/catering facilities, a restaurant and banquet halls, all of which are integrated with exhibit tours and interpretive programming; the Curatorial Centre in Saskatoon provides collections, conservation, research, education/extension, exhibit, marketing, technical and administration services, as well as public training courses in wheelwrighting and blacksmithing, and support for steam traction-engine operator certification

Research Services

Archival Records • Library

Educational Programs

Classes or Workshops

Visitor Services

Guided Tours : English • Parking Facilities : Free • Special Needs Facilities : Washrooms • Washrooms

Volunteer Services

Volunteer Services Available • Volunteer Training Offered

Number of Volunteers: 19

Activities: Assist with artifact conservation and restoration, research, cataloguing artifacts and help with the development of education programs and materials.

Member Privileges

Free admission to all four WDM branches for members, their partners and dependent children. Free entry to WDM summer shows and events. "Sparks off the Anvil," the regular newsletter of the WDM. 10% discount at WDM gift shops and 10% on menu items at Saskatoon's Boomtown Cafe. Advance notification of WDM classes, invitations to events and exhibit openings, recognition in Annual Report and tax receipts for gifts exceeding the membership fee.

Internet Services

General Information • Collections • Education • Other Internet Services

Publications and Products

"Sparks off the Anvil," newsletter; various titles

Annual Reports • Books • Brochures • Museum Guide • Newsletters

Map

Visit the Website

Location

Address:	2935 Melville Street Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7J 5A6 See Map
Telephone:	306-934-1400
Fax:	306-934-4467
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