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Yep TWO Museums today
Saskatoon, Canada |
So when we checked in yesterday the campground host said that if we liked museums we needed to go to the Saskatchewan Western Development Museum. George had already researched the Ukrainian Museum so two museums in one day it is. Again I was impressed with both of them. At the first one they created “Boomtown” circa 1910 with all of the cool historical artifacts. “Boomtown” was built in one large building under one roof. You walk down main street and there were actual 1910 era wooden buildings with a board walk on both sides of the street. When you entered into the general store and you felt like you had stepped back into time and were really there. The shelves were full of authentic items of the period. Approximately 24 buildings with everything from a Church to a Bank to a Chinese laundry and everything in between. The amount of details and antiques were first class in a very understated manner. After we walked down main street and explored all the business and shops in the buildings, we then went into a small building that looked like a train car. We sat down and a video automatically begun detailing the journey of young family making their way from the Ukraine to Saskatchewan to farm new land. From 1890-1920 Canada marketed 160 acres of free western land to anyone you would farm a minimum of 30 acres within 5 years of homesteading. When the video was over, we walked out of the train car and followed the adventure of this family in their new life. The displays were motion activated and narrated by this family depicting all aspects of their new life starting in a sod house and advancing four generations on the same farm.
The time and effort in creating this was very well done. I looked forward to seeing what was around the next corner and how it was presented. They also had a collection of vehicles, farm equipment and model trains. Hummm, am I starting to like museums? Coffee and pie to fuel us from the Boomtown Cafe was really good. Next stop, the Ukrainian Museum. The Ukrainian Museum of Canada was the 2nd of the day and it depicted the Ukrainian immigration to Saskatchewan. Sharon was the employee on duty whose both sides of her family had immigrated from the Ukraine. She was a a wealth of information, and through her unsolicited commentary, she brought many of the exhibits and the trials and tribulations of a Ukraine family to life. She was very exuberant in a good way… We thanked her… The vintage clothing with all of its embroidery was beautiful. Some of the displays reminded me of my visit to Russia and Ukraine with my mother in 1989. After the museum we drove around town looking for a “kool” part of town to grab dinner. Most times we like going to mom and pop or eclectic type restaurants to get a feel for the locals. We didn’t find much of that, but what we noticed, is this place endures a long winter, things look a little dingy, lots of dirt on the streets from snow plows. They need a good rain to clean things off.
But.. we drove by what looked like an old train station, and there it was, “Tomas the Cook” Family Restaurant. It was in a renovated train station and the food was really good. We enjoyed talking to some locals at the next table over about their town and shared some of our experiences. What a good day. No Stats.
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