What's new

There have been a lot of changes recently to the museum. Please stop in and see for yourself. John Hindle, long-time St. Vital resident has replaced Bob Holliday as president of the museum. He is asking all current and previous St. Vital residents to support the museum.

 

Welcome to the St. Vital Museum

The former St. Vital police station, located within the fire station at 600 St. Mary's Road, is now the current home of the St. Vital Museum. It is a two-storey brick structure with stone facing on the main level. Erected in 1914, the station housed both the St. Vital Police and Fire Departments, the latter of which first began operating with three horse-drawn carriages and six firemen. At the rear were stables for horses which drew the wagons and sleighs up until the 1930's at which point pumper trucks were used. The first fire truck appeared in 1923 with the purchase of an REO Speedwagon. The second floor of the building also originally provided living quarters for the firemen.

The fire station closed in 1972 and the police station closed in 1974. In 1974, the station was retired when St. Vital amalgamated with the City of Winnipeg and was then adapted as a centre for the City Health Department and an ambulance station.

The fire hall achieved its status as a designated heritage building in 1982.

The St. Vital Museum was officially opened on May 24th, 2008.

The museum displays many artifacts related to the history of St. Vital dating from the first settlement in 1820. Special exhibits in the museum include archives dating back to the early 1800's, the original 1939 Fargo Pumper truck used by the St. Vital Fire Brigade and a copy of the handwritten diary by Victor Mager who was at Fort Garry in 1870 when Thomas Scott was executed under the orders of Louis Riel.

The museum's goal is to tell the stories and present a pictorial history of such pioneers as Abraham Guay, Victor Mager, Joseph and Marie St. Germain, Fredrick Hulton, William and Mary Ann McDowell, Peter Tod and St. Vital's most famous son, Louis Riel.

museum hours

TOURS

To set up a tour during business hours (after hours tours are also available subject to advance notice) please call (204) 255-2864 or email us at info@svhs.ca:

Click here for more info on tours and presentations.

  • Our hours during summer are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm. During winter, you can find us open Saturdays only from 10am to 4pm. Tours can be accommodated outside of regular museum hours. See TOURS below.

    Closed Statutory holidays.

    Admission: Free for all visitors; donations gratefully accepted.

    For general inquiries, please call (204) 255-2864 or email us at info@svhs.ca.
     

how to find us:

We are located in Winnipeg, Manitoba at 600 St. Mary's Road, just south of the junction with St. Anne's Road. The entrance to the museum is located in the rear of the building.

By Car:
Parking is free in the lot directly behind the museum.

By bus from downtown:
Winnipeg Transit routes: 14-St. Mary's, 54-St. Mary's Express, 55-St. Anne's.

Visit the Winnipeg Transit website for schedules and fares.

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