Museum

The Swan Valley Museum is located approximately one mile north of Swan River on Highway 10 North. The purpose of the museum is to collect, restore, maintain, and exhibit objects that will serve to illustrate the story of man & nature in the valley. To that end, there are a number of display buildings housing articles, everything from rocks and minerals that form the foundation of our valley, to books about our towns and people of today.

The main building contains a geological showcase and items from early settlement in the valley. There is also a pioneer store with living quarters at the back, a blacksmith shop, two churches (which are still used), a one-room school house, a forest ranger's cabin and tower, a trapper's cabin (from the trapline), a telephone office (one of the last used), The Princess (originally sailed Lake Winnipegosis as part of a fishing fleet), and a CN train station (complete with living quarters in the back, and a railroad bunk car on the tracks out front!). Also on site is a quiet little park on the banks of the Swan River, perfect for family picnics or a nice quiet lunch break.

Harvest Festival is a 2-day event held the last weekend in August. Again, there is bread baking, shingle making, and a machinery parade, as well as demonstrations of cutting grain with a binder, and making sheaves. Add to that rides in a 1916 Model T, bag tying and stooking contests, a fiddle contest and old-time dance Saturday night, and a home-cooked meal Sunday evening. What a weekend!

A turkey shoot, the largest in Manitoba, is held in November and features target shooting, turkey bingo, and pie plate roulette (a chance to take your Christmas turkey home early!)

The Swan Valley Museum is open from May to the end of September, 9:00am-5:00pm weekdays, and 1:00pm-5:00pm weekends.

For more information:

Swan Valley Museum

Box 2078

Swan River, Manitoba, R0L 1Z0

(204) 734-3585