| Royal Alberta Museum | |
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Location in Edmonton
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| Established | 1967 |
| Location | 12845 102 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Type | History museum |
| Website | Royal Alberta Museum |
The Royal Alberta Museum is located in Edmonton, Alberta and was named the Provincial Museum of Alberta until 24 May 2005 when Queen Elizabeth II visited, bestowing royal patronage.[1] It has a natural history exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, an entomology exhibit, a Native Culture exhibit, as well as some smaller displays. It also houses an entomology collection and an arachnology collection. The museum was to undergo an extensive multi-million dollar renewal project, but funding has been put on hold causing delays.[2][3] Also on the premises is Government House which is used by the Alberta Government Caucus. The museum has three permanent galleries: Wild Alberta, Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture, and Natural History. The Museum also has rotating galleries that welcome travelling exhibits as well as host exhibits created in house by the museums curators.
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The Wild Alberta gallery contains dioramas, which show Alberta animals in replicated natural habitats. The gallery also gives visitors information on the ecosystems of Alberta and how animals, microorganisms and humans interact in the environment.
The gallery explores the history of North American Aboriginals with over 3000 artifacts spanning 11,000 years of history. It starts at the time of the last ice age, and explores aboriginal settlement, livelihood and culture.
James Carnegie Collection The museum bought items from the family of James Carnegie at a Sotheby's auction on 8 May 2006.[4] This was billed as the most significant auction of North American Indian artifacts to date, including a prized beaded dress collected in 1859 which cost USD $497,600.
The Natural History Gallery is home to the popular "Bug Room" where some of the worlds largest bugs are on display.[5] The gallery also boasts an area dedicated to the vegetation of Alberta as well as the birds that make Alberta home. The entrance to the gallery houses a large geology exhibit containing exquisite gems and rocks, as well as a collection of the rocks that make up the landscape of Alberta.
In April 2011, it was announced that a new building for the Royal Alberta Museum would be built in downtown Edmonton, north of the city hall and Law Courts, and east of the CN Tower, on the land currently occupied by Canada Post's Edmonton station. The 36,000 m2 (390,000 sq ft) building, which will contain twice as much gallery space, is estimated to cost $340 million, and be completed in 2015. Premier Stelmach and the Alberta government have said that the location of the new building could be used for the terminal of an Edmonton—Calgary high speed rail line, while the old location will be the site for a new residence for the Lieutenant Governor.[6][7]
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