Royal Alberta Museum
Encyclopedia
The Royal Alberta Museum is located in Edmonton, Alberta and was named the Provincial Museum of Alberta until 24 May 2005 when Queen Elizabeth II
visited, bestowing royal patronage. It has a natural history exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, an entomology exhibit, a Native Culture exhibit, as well as some smaller displays. It also houses an entomology collection and an arachnology collection. The museum was to undergo an extensive multi-million dollar renewal project, but funding has been put on hold causing delays. Also on the premises is Government House
which is used by the Alberta Government Caucus
. The museum has three permanent galleries: Wild Alberta, Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture, and Natural History. The Museum also has rotating galleries that welcome travelling exhibits as well as host exhibits created in house by the museums curators.
James Carnegie Collection The museum bought items from the family of James Carnegie
at a Sotheby's
auction on 8 May 2006. This was billed as the most significant auction of North American Indian artifacts to date, including a prized beaded dress collected in 1859 which cost USD $497,600.
, north of the city hall
and Law Courts
, and east of the CN Tower
, on the land currently occupied by Canada Post
's Edmonton station. The 36000 m² (387,500.8 sq ft) building, which will contain twice as much gallery space, is estimated to cost $340 million, and be completed in 2015. Premier Stelmach
and the Alberta government have said that the location of the new building could be used for the terminal of an Edmonton—Calgary high speed rail line, while the old location will be the site for a new residence for the Lieutenant Governor
.
Monarchy in Canada
The monarchy of Canada is the core of both Canada's federalism and its Westminster-style parliamentary democracy, being the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Canadian government and each provincial government...
visited, bestowing royal patronage. It has a natural history exhibit, a wildlife exhibit, an entomology exhibit, a Native Culture exhibit, as well as some smaller displays. It also houses an entomology collection and an arachnology collection. The museum was to undergo an extensive multi-million dollar renewal project, but funding has been put on hold causing delays. Also on the premises is Government House
Government House (Alberta)
Government House is the former official residence of the lieutenant governors of Alberta, currently retained for ceremonial events and entertaining.The property for the house was purchased by the Province of Alberta in 1910, as well as the surrounding area...
which is used by the Alberta Government Caucus
Caucus
A caucus is a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement, especially in the United States and Canada. As the use of the term has been expanded the exact definition has come to vary among political cultures.-Origin of the term:...
. The museum has three permanent galleries: Wild Alberta, Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture, and Natural History. The Museum also has rotating galleries that welcome travelling exhibits as well as host exhibits created in house by the museums curators.
Wild Alberta Gallery
The Wild Alberta gallery contains dioramas, which show Alberta animals in replicated natural habitats. The gallery also gives visitors information on the ecosystems of Alberta and how animals, microorganisms and humans interact in the environment.Syncrude Gallery of Aboriginal Culture
The gallery explores the history of North American Aboriginals with over 3000 artifacts spanning 11,000 years of history. It starts at the time of the last ice age, and explores aboriginal settlement, livelihood and culture.James Carnegie Collection The museum bought items from the family of James Carnegie
James Carnegie, 9th Earl of Southesk
Sir James Carnegie, 9th Earl of Southesk KT , known as Sir James Carnegie of Kinnaird and of Pitcarrow, 6th Baronet and de jure of the other titles, from 1849 to 1855, was a Scottish nobleman....
at a Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
auction on 8 May 2006. This was billed as the most significant auction of North American Indian artifacts to date, including a prized beaded dress collected in 1859 which cost USD $497,600.
Natural History Gallery
The Natural History Gallery is home to the popular "Bug Room" where some of the worlds largest bugs are on display. The gallery also boasts an area dedicated to the vegetation of Alberta as well as the birds that make Alberta home. The entrance to the gallery houses a large geology exhibit containing exquisite gems and rocks, as well as a collection of the rocks that make up the landscape of Alberta.Downtown building
In April 2011, it was announced that a new building for the Royal Alberta Museum would be built in downtown EdmontonDowntown Edmonton
Downtown Edmonton is bounded by 109 Street to the west, 105 Avenue to the north, 97 Street to the east, 97 Avenue, 100 Avenue, and Rossdale Road to the south and Jasper Avenue to the southeast , though many people consider part or all of the surrounding neighborhoods to be part of downtown...
, north of the city hall
Edmonton City Hall
Edmonton's City Hall was designed by Dub Architects, and completed in 1992. It features two steel and glass pyramids, one 43 meters high , on top of a three-story concrete structure. One pyramid provides natural light for the main atrium, the other for the council chambers...
and Law Courts
Law Courts (Edmonton)
The Law Courts building is the main courthouse in the city of Edmonton, the capital of Alberta. It hosts hearings of the Provincial Court of Alberta, the Alberta Court of Queen's Bench, and the Court of Appeal of Alberta...
, and east of the CN Tower
CN Tower (Edmonton)
CN Tower is an office tower in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It stands at or 26 storeys tall, and was built and formerly owned by the Canadian National Railway Company. At the time of its construction it was the first skyscraper in Edmonton, and the tallest building in Western Canada...
, on the land currently occupied by Canada Post
Canada Post
Canada Post Corporation, known more simply as Canada Post , is the Canadian crown corporation which functions as the country's primary postal operator...
's Edmonton station. The 36000 m² (387,500.8 sq ft) building, which will contain twice as much gallery space, is estimated to cost $340 million, and be completed in 2015. Premier Stelmach
Ed Stelmach
Edward Michael "Ed" Stelmach, MLA is a Canadian politician and served as the 13th Premier of Alberta, Canada, from 2006 to 2011. The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, Stelmach was born and raised on a farm near Lamont and speaks fluent Ukrainian. He spent his entire pre-political adult life as a...
and the Alberta government have said that the location of the new building could be used for the terminal of an Edmonton—Calgary high speed rail line, while the old location will be the site for a new residence for the Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Alberta
The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta is the viceregal representative in Alberta of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the nine other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...
.