Historical Museum of St James-Assiniboia

You are invited to return to a time past. Explore an authentic Red River frame log house built by William Brown and his Métis wife Charlotte Omand. Brown came from Orkney, Scotland in 1830 to work as a labourer for the Hudson's Bay Company. He later retired from the company to assume a farming existence in the Red River Settlement established by Lord Selkirk. The Museum complex consists of three buildings depicting the early economic, political, social and community development of the historic parishes of St.Francis-Xavier, Headingley, St.Charles and St.James. The Museum's Red River Frame Log structure built in 1856 by Hudson's Bay Company "servant", William Brown is furnished to an interpretive period of circa 1880 to 1890. Originally from the Orkney Islands, William Brown settled in the newly created parish of Headingley upon retirement from the HBC company in 1853. A modern Display Building complements the William Brown House through various vignettes representing early settler life. The 1911 historic Municipal Hall Building features dioramas and free standing exhibits comprised of artefacts and archival material representative of the District of St.James-Assiniboia, the 1911 historic Municipal Hall of St. James-Assiniboia. The Historical Museum Association of St. James-Assiniboia has approximately 5000 artefacts in its reserve collection of a human history/humanities nature including costumes, militaria, decorative arts and native ethnology which preserves the history of the St. James-Assinaboia area. The museum also promotes late 19th century pioneer history through interactive theatrical performances and educational programming offered to local schools and the community.