Learn about everything from precious minerals and gems to the intricacies of Inuit culture with a visit to this staggering cultural treasure house.
Situated right in the centre of Calgary, the Glenbow Museum is home to more than 20 galleries exhibiting more than 1 million objects and artefacts. With displays on everything from the cultural heritage of the country's first peoples to local art and landscapes, the museum covers an ambitious range of topics and tastes.Those in search of painting and sculpture should direct their steps towards the second floor. This area of the museum displays the art of Western Canada from the 1800s onwards, as well as a collection of 20th-century Modernist paintings. Also near here is an exhibition of Asian sculpture which includes more than 80 pieces.Those who are more interested in the human element of culture should head for the third floor, with its fascinating exhibits on the Inuit and Nisitapii (or Blackfoot) cultures, and the special display on intrepid Albertans throughout history, known as the Mavericks gallery.The fourth floor is home to a glittering, glimmering array of rocks, minerals and multi-coloured gemstones. The mineralogy section includes fluorescent mineral displays and a chunk of the Earth's oldest rock. The Warriors exhibit on the same floor is also well worth a look, documenting weaponry and its uses across five centuries and 4 continents.The museum library is a must-see for cartography buffs, with a collection of beautiful maps just begging to be pored over. Similarly, the museum archives host a wealth of unpublished diaries and letters that history enthusiasts will devour.Glenbow Museum is located in the cultural district of Calgary city centre. The museum can be reached via the C-train, or with a short walk from the nearby light rail transit station. You can also access the museum via the +15 Skywalk, the public walkway connecting many buildings in the city at 4.5 metres above street level. The museum galleries are open every day except Monday, though the library and archives are open Tuesday to Thursday only. There is a charge to enter the museum.
