Exhibits

As a community museum, the St. Marys Museum has ten display areas open to the public, all containing artifacts associated with the history of this area. Throughout the year, there is a schedule of changing displays and activities, based on the collection.

Current Exhibits

A National Crime: The Residential School Experience in Canada

On loan from the Legacy of Hope Foundation, the exhibit explores the creation of the Residential School System, the experiences of the students, and the system's impacts and traumas. It also highlights Indigenous-led political action, healing, and efforts towards reconciliation. The exhibit is on display until January 2025.

Painting the Past: Artists of St. Marys

Explore the biographies of several prominent St. Marys artists while enjoying their works from the Museum's collection.

Famiglia: The Story of the Italian Community in St. Marys

This exhibit is based on a 1996 publication called “Bravi: A History of the Italian Community in the Town of St. Marys”, which is still an important resource available at the Museum. Some additional recent donations led us to revisit this topic and share this important history with visitors. Famiglia will be on display until April 2025.

Behind the Battlefield: War on the Home Front

Located in the Richard Holt Military Gallery, this exhibit focuses on the war effort in St. Marys, highlight the contributions that St. Marys and area residents made from the home front. This exhibit is on display until November 2025.

All About Optics

Explore optical inventions in the Museum’s collection. This is an opportunity to learn about light and how it impacts our daily lives. Visitors will be able to see some of the important inventions that use light to study our world, including microscopes, telescopes, cameras, and more. There is even a takeaway so visitors can make their own thaumatrope, a Victorian optical illusion toy. All About Optics will be on display until January 2025.

Permanent Exhibits

Visit the Children's Discovery Room for hands-on learning and play in a recreated classroom! A rotation of toys, games, dress-up costumes, and crafts are always out to keep young visitors engaged.

Two seasonal outbuildings contain a woodworking shop and displays of farm implements and early methods of transportation. 

Virtual Exhibits

Visit the 2022 Virtual Heritage Fair exhibits here https://stmarysheritagefair2022.wordpress.com/