The Bulkley Valley Museum houses a number of permanent exhibits, including a historical re-creation of the “Watson Store”, a general store on Main Street from the 1920s to the 1940s.
Additionally, we periodically curate feature exhibits on a variety of historical topics. Some of our current and upcoming exhibits are listed below.
Swiss Guides: Shaping Mountain Culture in Western Canada
The Bulkley Valley Museum is proud to host the wonderful exhibition, Swiss Guides: Shaping Mountain Culture in Western Canada, curated by Ilona Spaar and presented by the Consulate General of Switzerland, Vancouver.
This exhibition is dedicated to the remarkable history of Swiss mountain guides and ski instructors in the Canadian Rocky, Columbia, and Coastal Mountains dating from the 1900s to 1970s. Swiss Guides documents the role the Swiss guides played in the development of mountain guiding, safety, skiing and heli-skiing in Western Canada. They were among the first to develop Canada as a world famous destination for recreational skiing as a winter pastime.
Skiing Around Hudson Bay Mountain 1950 - 1980
Curator, Fergus Tomlin, presents the second of three skiing related exhibittions “Skiing Around Hudson Bay Mountain 1950 - 1980”. Learn more on Smithers’ history of skiing during that era at the Bulkley Valley Museum, February to May 2011. The exhibition also highlights skiing in the Kemano/Kitimat area, thanks to contributions by renowned local author, Einar Blix.
This exhibition launch is also the inauguration of the Bulkley Valley Museum’s Smithers Winter Culture Crawl. You can still enjoy last year’s “Skiing Around Hudson Bay Mountain 1930-1950” which is currently on display in the men’s clothing store, Hetherington & Hooper. And the Swiss exhibition, “Our Little Switzerland, the Swiss Migration to Bulkley Valley 1934-1975”, is on display at Schimmel’s Fine Pastry on Main St., Smithers.
Take a stroll around town and enjoy the ambiance and culture of the Valley.
Gasoline Valley: The History of the Automobile in the Bulkley Valley
This exhibition extends over 5 locations; the Museum itself and the showrooms of the 4 car dealerships in Smithers, Coast Mountain GM, Hoskins Ford, Frontier Chrysler and Glacier Toyota.
Discover the enormous role and influence of the automobile in the daily lives of the Valley inhabitants, from leisure time to commerce, from travel communications to styles of worship and more.
A lively exhibition featuring photos, toys, engaging artifacts and DVDs.
Skiing Around Hudson Bay Mountain
Curator Fergus Tomlin presents a special exhibit that shares Smithers’ rich skiing history between 1930 and 1950. Learn more at the Bulkley Valley Museum, January - May 2010.
Shown at left: Skiers at a Hazelton ski meet, 1938. Rear (L-R): Harold Windt, Larry Warner, Steen Olafson, Chris Dahlie, Bert Griffin, Charlie Doodson. Front (L-R): Leonard Freer, Al Benson, Ben Aida, Fuji (Joe) Aida, Jimmy Allen, unidentified.
Teddy Bear Exhibition
The Teddy Bear Exhibition includes bears from 100 years of age to the present, with many from the community, each with its own history. On Thursday afternoon, Nov 26th, there will be a Teddy Bear Picnic to which all children are invited with their Teddies. A contribution from Steiff, Germany, will also be included. If you love Teddy Bears you will adore this exhibition.
Smithers Gift to Civilization
The Story of Joseph Coyle – Publisher/Inventor
Smithers Gift to Civilization is our self-deprecation appellation for describing Joseph Coyle’s invention of a machine for producing egg cartons which he patented in 1918. He was also the publisher of the popular Bulkley Valley paper, The Interior News.
The life of Joseph Coyle is the bittersweet story of an inveterate inventor. Coyle had vision, dedication and the drive to pursue his dreams across a continent only to end up in reduced circumstances despite living to over 100 years of age.
Visit the Bulkley Valley Museum to learn the full story of Joseph Coyle and his story of invention, hope and dismay.
© Bulkley Valley Museum Society, 2009 | Site by Bachrach Communications