The Claresholm & District Museum is now open for the summer, giving residents and travellers a chance to step back into the area’s rich history. The museum started its season on May 15 and will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until August 28.
Set inside the sandstone 1912 CPR Train Station at the heart of Claresholm, the museum is about more than just one building. The grounds also hold an 8,000 square foot exhibit hall, Claresholm’s first schoolhouse from 1903, a 1920s log cabin, and a real CPR caboose. Inside, the archives contain thousands of regional artifacts, documents, and historic photographs. They tell the story of southwest Alberta from early Blackfoot culture through to the Second World War British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and beyond.
The station itself has an unusual past. It was originally part of Calgary’s 1886 CPR depot on 9th Avenue, taken apart block by block in 1910-1911 and moved here when Calgary needed a larger station. It earned provincial historic designation in November 2004. This year, three summer staff have joined the museum team: Emmitt Carlson as collections assistant, Sarah Leeds as education programming assistant, and Xander DeLeon as communications and public relations assistant.
For anyone travelling through the region, the site also serves as a Travel Alberta accredited Visitor Information Centre. Staff can help with regional maps, brochures, and booking tips. The gift shop offers local handmade arts and crafts along with books by area authors.
The museum is a key stop for learning about Claresholm’s roots. The town grew fast after the railway arrived, incorporating in 1905. During the war, No. 15 Service Flying Training School ran at the local airport from 1941 to 1945, graduating roughly 1,800 pilots. That history, together with stories of prairie homesteading and women’s rights, is preserved right here.
