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

1967 Centennial Coin Set

This collections item is a complete set of 1967 Centennial Coins. They were designed by renowned Canadian artist Alex Colville, known for paintings such as

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Bog Oak Cauldron

This object is a small, decorative cauldron, including with a handle, which may originally have been a candle holder. It seems to have originally been

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Reserve, Saskatchewan Mug

This month’s From the Vault object is a white ceramic mug, which says, “RESERVE SASK / I KNOW WHERE THAT IS”. It would have been

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String of Christmas Lights

This From the Vault object is a string of Christmas lights – missing its lights! Originally the socket was porcelain and the bulbs were in

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1912 Hallowe’en Masquerade Ball Invitation

This collection item is an invitation to a masquerade ball held on Hallowe’en night, 1912. The words have been printed on heavy paper, with the

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