The Musée Morinville Museum is located in the heart of Morinville, Alberta. It covers 5,200 square feet of renovated basement space (2009) in the Notre Dame Convent which was built in 1909.
The Museum faces St.Jean Baptiste Park where a Statue of the Sacred Heart stands surrounded by flowers and shrubs.
Sadly, June 30, 2021, the historical and beautiful St. Jean-Baptiste Catholic Church was destroyed by fire. Construction of the Church was completed in the fall of 1907. The first mass was celebrated on January 1st, 1908.
The clock tower built in 2005 remains standing.
Once inside the stained glass French doors of the Museum, “east” and “west” wings house the following displays:
The”east wing” is home to a 1928 Model A Ford which was donated by Mrs. Lorette Champagne in 1995.
The “west wing” showcases a mid century Barber Shop and Beauty Salon.
The present exhibit is called “Morinville as a Reflection of the Canadian Spirit.” With its strong Francophone roots and multicultural diversities, Morinville is a microcosm of Canada.
Storyline 1: Is a presentation of the foundation of the community and its bilingual origins with strong French and German components. The legacy of Father Morin and his contributions to the Morinville area are endless.
Storyline 2: Presents some of the early leaders in the community, the fruits of their labour and their ingenuity. The leaders presented are the Filles de Jesus, the pioneers and the soldiers of World War I and World War II.
Storyline 3: Presents the call to the west and pioneer life which brought many people to Morinville and area.
Women worked very hard inside and outside the home. Their workday began before dawn and ended after dusk. These women, primary keepers of the family and home, cared for the children, cleaned the house, prepared the meals, sewed, washed the clothes, planted the garden, canned etc. The women perservered to establish a home and a community.
Prominent Women of Morinville:
View the Morinville Historic Timeline (1891 – 2011)
Tour the Morinville Art Club’s artwork created by local artisans. The art on display is available for purchase.
The Gift Shop has the following items for sale:
The collection is stored in an environmentally controlled storage room to ensure the items are protected and available to future generations.
The collection consists of old photos of Morinville, books, newspapers, binders and items donated by local residents and founding family members.