This is a private museum on a ranch near Cochrane, Alberta. The museum is open by arrangement to groups of people for fund-raising events and academic research and I’m not sure what else. When a Stampede party was held at the ranch, the museum was open for tours. Finally my chance to see the Museum of Making.

museum setting

machinery

Here’s a quote from their website: “In 2001, the Canadian Museum of Making began acquiring machinery and tools that were built and used from 1750 to 1920 in Canada, Britain, and the United States. Our goal is to create and maintain an accurate source of information about machines and their history that is accessible to everybody, from academic researchers to people with a casual interest. We are a not-for-profit organization. The machines have been carefully preserved and restored to working order, and they are on display in the museum and in our virtual gallery .”

The museum is underground and the tour starts in a house at the top of a hill. There is nothing unusual about the house exterior but it is a different story once you go inside. As there were a lot of people who wanted to get through the museum, we were a bit rushed at the beginning. We were whisked down stairs to the first exhibit room before I could look around the house. Also our eyes were adjusting from the bright sunlight. I’m not complaining, but I hope I get a chance to visit again so I can take my time with all the amazing artifacts. The first part of the exhibit includes African metal art with a focus on jewellery, weapons and masks. Talk about amazing.

African exhibit

small currency figurines

African artifacts

African figures

African container

African art

African figuresAfrican art

African figure

African ironwork

Next we arrived in the machinery section. I can’t even begin to describe all the machinery, so take a look at their website for all the details. Until you do, enjoy this small sampling of photos.

first machinery room

looking up to the library

big machine

beautiful machinery display

more machinery

machinery

more machines

equipment display

printerI didn’t want to leave the museum because I was having SO MUCH FUN taking pictures! I have some design inspiration photos to share another day. Don’t want you to get too tired with all this stimulation.

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    1. You’re welcome. You know there’s more if you want to see sometime. I wish I could have shown how interesting it was working your way down through the hill where the museum was built. The size of the rooms was amazing, as well as everything inside of course.

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