Pioneer Acres Sneak a Peek

Small town museums are a treasure, each unique in character and a great resource if you want to learn of local history. Come connect with the people who came before and the things they left behind. At every turn take a look into the past and for the budget minded, it’s a big win with the cost of entry never breaking the bank, even for a large family. Need an idea where to start? How about we introduce you to Pioneer Acres, just a bit northeast of Calgary in Irricana.

The museum sits at the edge of town and there’s lots of signs to guide you in. At this huge property there’s many hanger-sized buildings bulging with displays and exhibits that’ll keep you busy for hours. The theme presented is rural life and it’s a snapshot of how things were, out here in the country, way back in the day. Should you have question while visiting, there’s helpful staff ready to guide and assist.

On entering it’s a hall filled with everyday artifacts and mementos of days gone by. There’s rooms done in specific themes, one looking like grandma’s place and another done up as a rural general store. Those county mercantiles sold everything! Out on the floor…my mom had that same sewing machine…that tea set…and my aunt, that same old radio. It’s amazing how something familiar from your past can have so many memories rushing back. Stand there and daydream.

Working on the “film project”.

Look for the vintage camera display, a new exhibit and the work of Team BIGDoer (we love to volunteer). There’s some fine photo equipment to see that you might just recognize or have a connection with. Maybe you owned one of these Brownies, Polaroids of Instamatics or knew someone who did. Remember those snapshots you took of the Stampede Parade (Bob Hope is marshal!) or capturing the fun when your cousin visited and you all headed off to Banff? Obligatory shot: a skewed and poorly focused photo of the family standing awkwardly with a full regalia Mountie.

There’s dozens and dozens of cameras on display here, some well used, some new in box and with each we included a short history write up. It was no easy task selecting these from the the hundreds we found in the warehouse, but out of it came a board and varied display. Most are everyday snapshot cameras, stuff most people can relate to, with a few enthusiast rigs and oddballs thrown in for good measure.

The museum allowed us a rare opportunity, a chance we naturally jumped at, to select any gear from the collection we wanted and shoot a film photo-tour of the museum grounds. This Pioneer Acres “film project” was AMAZING and the results on display at the museum for you to browse. It’s like looking through an old family album.

Dealing with jammed take up rolls and sticky shutters was par for the course this day. Then add in photographers completely out of their element and film stock stale dated by a few decades and everything pointed to it being a disaster. Instead, it was absolutely glorious with results strange and wonderful. God there’s some awful photos there…and similarly some inspired. Please check it out when you visit and send us your thoughts. Coming soon to BIGDoer.com, a behind the scenes from that wacky event!

Strolling around, pass a line of Oil Pull tractors with some going back a hundred years or more. Giant metal dinosaurs, their sheer size will have you feeling tiny and insignificant.

In one hall it’s row after row of Massey tractors and in another mixed makes, many lesser known (Gibson, Rockol, GMC Sampson and Coop – made by Cockshutt). When compared to the huge behemoths seen on the farm present day they’re so simple and compact. Sitting out there in the open, there’s no AC, no stereo, no GPS and if rained you got drenched…if the sun burned down you cooked alive…if it was windy you ate dust. And those damn mosquitoes! Yet for the farmers then, it was just another working day and everything taken in stride.

There’s enough old machinery here to make any metal-head rejoice, the collection seemingly endless. Round this way, there’s more. Open a door, there’s more. Inside or out, there’s more!

One building houses stationary steam engines and at another, it’s a complete blacksmith shop. Working metal was an important skill once and if you come on a demonstration day watch the sparks fly! This reminds us, they put on various shows here, tractor pulls being a particular favourite and it’s these days when the place really comes alive. Check with Pioneer Acres and see what’s happening before your come.

The Grain Academy’s a fabulous new exhibit, moved in from the Stampede Grounds in Calgary and greatly expanded upon. Learn how Canada’s prairies fed the world, examine the inner workings of a grain elevator and see how the the railways played a part. From field to table, it’s an amazing journey.

Crown School, from the early 1900s, is one of thousands of one-roomers that once populated the rural prairies. Typically located at some country cross-road, step inside and see how farm kids were taught a century ago. Like all the buildings here, it’s well stocked with interesting displays and artifacts.

Into old vehicles? Yeah, I know, who isn’t? In a dedicated building, it’s an amazing collection of ones big and small, shining so bright as to be blinding. With so much love and care going into their restoration, they never looked so good. There’s a Mack Bulldog, some strange tracked machine called a Linn Tractor, old Chevys, Internationals and many others. There we’re working machines.

Wandering more, it’s farm machinery here and the stuff for building roads there. A real stand out is a strange Rube Goldberg canal digging thing (see: DNR Excavator) and there’s other stuff we’re not even sure what it is.

The stunning Long House is a museum highpoint. Dating back over a century, this fine old home was well appointed for its time (hot water!) and once stood a bit outside town. On moving to the museum it was lovingly restored to appear as it might have looked circa 1930 and completely furnished. Check out that simple kitchen and that gorgeous stove. Dinner’s on! While there’s a real majesty to the house we think you’ll agree there’s a slightly unsettling (but not ominous) vibe or feel going on here as well. Hang by the attic door and get back to us.

Pioneer acres has celebrated fifty some years on the scene and here’s to that many more. A must stop in any museum tour, it a good size for such a small town and they’ve done an amazing job. Here’s a shout out to Shelly and rest. It’s clear passion and dedication is at work here.

Their extensive truck display includes this ’50s Travelall.

We just scratched the surface with this post but we should be back to take in the museum more and will write about it here on our website. Pioneer Acres could keep us busy for years and we look forward to knowing it more. And should you visit, and we think it a great idea, maybe we’ll bump into you. Just look for the yellow jacket.

Here’s some useful search queries if want to know more: Pioneer Acres Irricana and Small Town Museums Alberta.

Till next time, keep on being curious.

They’re saying…

”They present well researched articles that do a lot to preserve our history and heritage which is very important. We are losing many of our landmarks such as old grain elevators, rural churches and commercial buildings in many of our small towns. Chris and Connie have done a lot to highlight these passings and to keep us informed.” Lynn Bardsley Redekopp. (From the bottom of our hearts, thanks. C&C.)

Museums of all types…
Wandering The Alberta Central Railway Museum.
Scandia Eastern Irrigation District Museum.
Museum Tour: Viking Alberta.

If you feel like chatting or want more information on what you see here feel free to contact us!

Date of Adventure: Spring, summer and fall 2020.
Location(s): Irricana, AB.
Article references and thanks: Shelly McElroy @ Pioneer Acres Museum.
You can tour and visit everything seen here!

“Built like a Mack Truck.”

At the newly opened Grain Academy.

If you’re into tractors, this is the place.

Sometimes it’s the little details.

They’ve got so many.

An early 4wd from Massey Harris.

There’s an entire building dedicated to the make.

A storm brews over the incredible Long House.

Building the camera display.

Get to know a few “Prairie Sentinels”.

A miniature world of wonder.

Blacksmithing was a important skill once.

There’s something to see at every turn.

This is just a warm up & we’ll be showing you more soon.

Looks like someone is home.

Just a few of the film shots.

Crown School in back.