The Yellowknife Historical Society has finally opened its museum’s doors to the public with a grand opening that welcomed hundreds of visitors on Tuesday afternoon.
The event was 20 years in the making.
Showcasing the rich and tumultuous history of Giant Mine as well as portraying aspects of Yellowknife’s early days to the present, the museum is the result of the tireless efforts of a dedicated group of local historians and volunteers.
Tuesday’s grand opening event drew around 300 people in the first two hours.
“I bought the building from the line manager,” said Walt Humphries, past president of the historical society. “We got a lease for the land from the city. We started to work on the building, and then the government put in an environmental review. When that happens, you can’t do anything unless it’s an emergency, so that took over a decade to get it cleared up. When that finished, we could start work on the inside of the building.”
Visitors to the museum, located at 510 Yellowknife Access Road, can expect to find a variety of exhibits, including mineral samples, a comprehensive timeline and artifacts from the town’s mining era. These items were carefully selected and transported from the defunct mines, with permission.
Humphries mentioned that the building, originally Giant Mine’s recreation hall, has served various purposes over the years. It was a place of leisure for mine workers as it housed a pool hall, a library, and even a post office. After the gold mine ceased operations, the building stood empty for a decade, waiting for a new chapter.
The grand opening of the museum is just the beginning of its journey to educate and engage the public, who can visit the site from Tuesday to Saturday.
Mike Byrne, a lifetime member of the Yellowknife Historical Society, formerly known as the NWT Mining Heritage Society, noted that the organization’s name change was partly influenced by donor preferences and a desire to encompass more than just the mining heritage of Yellowknife.
Byrne, also former vice-president of the society, recounted the incremental progress made on the building, starting with essential repairs to the roof and foundation, leading up to the interior renovations. He reminisced about the structure’s past as a hub of social activity for mine employees and the community, hosting events from marriages to movies.
Born in 1955, Byrne has deep roots in Yellowknife, with his father establishing himself as a consulting mining engineer in 1947. Despite exploring the world, Byrne always considered Yellowknife his home base. His return to the NWT capital to assist with the museum’s development was driven by a deep connection to the place and its unique character, he said.