Our Collections

Our Permanent Collection is based on the extensive and varied collection of Mr. Sam Waller. Containing over 70,000 items, the collection includes natural history specimens, human history artifacts, books and library materials, photographs and negatives, fine art pieces and the archives of the Town of The Pas. While our founder collected from the four corners of the world, the Museum now limits new accessions to those items that are pertinent to the history of the community and region. Many items from the collection can be viewed in our exhibits.

Our small Education Collection has been developed with duplicates of items in the permanent collection, in addition to items specifically donated for this collection. These items are used in our educational programming for youth and school groups. A work in progress, we are always looking to expand this collection with interesting items that can be used to tell the stories of our past. Please contact the Museum staff for more details.

Collections Portal

Visit our online collections database here.

The museum is working to update our collections database and make collections items visible online with the support of the Government of Canada and Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage. 

Archives Portal

Browse our archival holdings here.

The museum has digitized a portion of its archival holdings with the support of Manitoba Sport, Culture and Heritage and Community Futures Cedar Lake. Contact us to learn how you can view archival items. 

From the Vault

Featured Items from our Collection

Water Barrel Coin

This artefact is an eight-sided coin or token known as “water barrel coins” circa 1920s.  These mass-produced coins were left as tokens for payment of

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Bed Warmer

Bed Warmer – Nickle plated shell welded together around circumference, wire loop handle. One side has the following inscribed: “MADE IN CANADA GOLDEN GATE MFG

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Player Piano Scroll

Player Piano Scroll – This is an old scroll for use in a player piano. It is long and cylindrical, has black wooden ends, beige

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Orange Barred Sulfur Butterfly

Orange Barred Sulfur Butterfly

This specimen is a male with bright yellow fore wings which have a wide orange bar in the centre hind wing with orange along the

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Prussian Helmet

This From the Vault feature is a gray wool German helmet with a metal spike sitting on top of the helmet. There is a coat

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