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

CNR Grand Trunk Railway Systems Rail Pass

This collection’s item is a Canadian National Railways Grand Trunk Railway Systems rail pass for Edmond Barker and Ethel Barker. Edmond, or Eddie Barker worked

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Third Edition “On the Origin of Species”

This collections object is a third edition of On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. While On the Origin of Species was originally published in 1859, this version

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Poison Dart

Our featured object is a poison dart. It was brought back from South America in the 1950s and given to Sam Waller. According to the

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Picture of Gweniveer the Jaguar

This collections item is a black and white photograph of Gweniveer, a jaguar. Gweniveer is an alternate spelling of “Guinevere”, famous from the King Arthur

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Golf Club Set

This collections item is a set of golf clubs, golf balls (not pictured) and tee along with a golf bag. The bag is made from

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