From its 1901 origins as a cozy reading room funded by local benefactors to the grand opening of its beautiful Carnegie-funded building in 1909, Selkirk’s library served as a vital community hub for decades. Explore the fascinating history of this historic landmark, its post-war demolition in 1959, and how its legacy was preserved in the bricks and timbers of the town’s parks.
Following World War II, a booming interest in curling pushed Selkirk to replace its aging Fox Avenue facility with an ambitious new project. Discover how the community rallied to build the Jemima Street Rink—from selling “curling certificates” and hosting volunteer “work bees” to its grand 1962 opening, featuring a ceremonial first rock thrown by Mayor Ben Massey.
Established on Christmas Eve in 1893 after a few false starts, the Selkirk Curling Club quickly grew from a single-sheet rink on Eveline Street into a competitive powerhouse. Explore the club’s early triumphs—including a near-legendary 19世纪95年 trip to a Wisconsin bonspiel—the 1911 debut of the Ladies Curling Club, and the historical mystery behind who truly served as its very first president.
Rising 40 metres above the community, the Selkirk Water Tower is much more than a piece of municipal infrastructure—it is a landmark rich with history. From the town’s first pressurized waterworks system in 1906 and a “bilious green” 1960s Watersphere, to an award-winning modern redesign and a vibrant 2025 heritage mural, explore the evolution of Selkirk’s most visible civic icon.
For over a century, the house at 202 Christie Avenue witnessed the dramatic evolution of its downtown neighborhood. From its 1915 origins as a family home tucked amidst bustling industrial docks and civic buildings, to its late-life transformation into a vital community homeless shelter, explore the remarkable history, changing surroundings, and ultimate legacy of the Barnard family home.
Conceived in 1946 as a “living memorial” to honor local servicemen and women, Selkirk’s Memorial Hall stands as a testament to community resilience and determination. Discover the fascinating history behind its years of grassroots fundraising, its architectural connection to the Selkirk Arena, and its vibrant legacy as a community hub—which even included a legendary 1965 live performance by a young Neil Young and The Squires.
From its origins as a 1907 “tin-covered monster” rink to its official 1949 rebirth as a pillar of community recreation, the Selkirk Arena has stood as a proud testament to a “big-little sports city.” Discover how local fundraising, innovative architecture, and a deep-seated love for the game shaped Selkirk’s most iconic gathering place for generations of hockey fans and community events.
From a failed lakeside cottage development to an ecologically protected treasure, Little Lake Park has a fascinating history of resilience. This exhibit explores how ice jams and Red River flooding accidentally saved this unique landscape from developers, paving the way for a historic golf course and creating one of the last remaining river bottom forests in Manitoba.
From a bustling 1950s neighborhood playground built by local volunteers to a permanent symbol of reconciliation, this park holds a deeply inspiring story. This exhibit highlights the site’s evolution from the old Kinsmen North Playground into a space dedicated to the lasting legacy of the Honorable Murray Sinclair, celebrating his historic path from local resident to national leader.
From a bustling 1920s tourism hotspot where day-trippers arrived by steamboat to dance the night away, Selkirk Park has always been the heart of the community’s recreation. This exhibit explores the rich history of this crown jewel on the Red River—from its early days hosting grand company picnics and open-air concerts to its modern role welcoming campers and housing the historic Marine Museum of Manitoba.