Named to honor the “Mother of the Empire,” Queen Avenue speaks to the immense admiration Selkirk residents held for Queen Victoria. This exhibit reveals how a prestigious street address was used to entice early buyers, and how land originally reserved for the main Transcontinental Railway line transformed into a vital shipping corridor that powered Selkirk’s booming waterfront industries.
Originally named to persuade a local landowner to sell his property, McLean Avenue quickly evolved into Selkirk’s “Church Street.” This exhibit explores the avenue’s spiritual and social history—from the grand architectural treasures built by early congregations to the historic cable ferry whose colorful operators kept the town connected across the Red River.
Named during an era of pure optimism for Canada’s expanding west, Manitoba Avenue evolved from a wide, muddy trail of “boomtown” storefronts into Selkirk’s premier commercial hub. This exhibit explores the avenue’s vibrant history—from the draining of the Big Bog that sparked a farming boom, to its legendary tolerance for moonshine, wild saloon brawls, and a devastating town fire.
What began in 1875 as a muddy trail behind a busy waterfront quickly transformed into Selkirk’s premier commercial hub. This exhibit follows the evolution of Eveline Street—from its wild days as a bustling tent city of railway gangs and timber workers, to a distinguished district boasting grand brick storefronts and the West’s very first rural electric street railway.
From the failed farming dreams of Timothy Eaton’s nephews to a persistent town councilman who helped shape Selkirk’s early infrastructure, Eaton Avenue is packed with history. This exhibit explores the street’s evolution, featuring a secretive Masonic Hall, a citizen-funded Carnegie library, and the iconic “Blue Bridge” where an act of civil disobedience made local history.
Named after Canada’s third Governor-General, Dufferin Avenue recalls a grand 1877 vice-regal visit that convinced early residents Selkirk was destined for greatness. This exhibit explores how a frontier crossing preparing for a railway boom transformed into a community of profound loyalty—later exemplified by the legendary “Dufferin Gang” of World War II.
From the dramatic moment James Colcleugh stepped off a York boat in 1875 to string Western Canada’s first telegraph line, to a momentous 1877 royal visit by Lord and Lady Dufferin, Clandeboye Avenue marks the exact birthplace of Selkirk. Discover how a frontier crossing transformed into a town built on fierce British loyalty.
Named after Selkirk’s visionary first mayor, Colcleugh Avenue tells the dramatic story of the town’s birth. From buying up “scrip” land in anticipation of a railway boom to single-handedly saving the community from becoming a ghost town after a devastating railway detour, discover how James Colcleugh secured Selkirk’s future.
Named during a peak of British patriotism at the outbreak of WWI, Britannia Avenue stands as a tribute to Selkirk’s deep ties to the monarchy. This exhibit explores the profound local impact of the Great War—from the halting of local industry and the mobilization of the 108th Battalion, to an Armistice celebration unexpectedly silenced by the Spanish Flu.