FERNIE MUSEUM
Explore 140 years of history
The Fernie Museum and Visitor Centre,
located in the historic 1908 Home
Bank building, has welcomed over
55,000 visitors since opening in that
location in 2013. Featuring intriguing
stories and collections it is a must-do
for all visitors.
THIS IS OUR FERNIE
The permanent exhibition tells
the story of Fernie’s legends and
mythology, fires and mining disasters
and tales of commercial, sporting and
community life over the past 140 years.
See the updated and refreshed exhibit,
including new interactive displays, from
December 1st.
TRITES & WOOD MERCANTILE
A new museum gift shop opens
December 1st featuring a curated
collection of items inspired by the
museum’s collection, and life in Fernie.
Browse the Fernie-branded products
including Murchie’s Fernie blend tea,
miniature rugs inspired by the carpets
once sold at Trites-Wood department
store, and Fernie Ladies’ Apothecary
Soaps. The Museum is proud to present
featured artists in the gift shop,
beginning with jewellery designer Matti
Martin in January and February.
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FERNIE TREASURES AND
CURIOSITIES
DECEMBER 2 – MARCH 31
The fascination of historic objects is
the foundation for museum collections.
Objects make us wonder: “Who made
this, and why?” Spanning over 40 years
of collecting, the Fernie Museum has
almost 10,000 artifacts in its Cultural
History Collection that tell the story of
the Elk Valley. The exhibit will feature a
curated collection of 150 treasurers and
curiosities from the museum’s vaults,
many of which have not been seen by
the public in over
20 years.
VAULTS OF HISTORY:
The vault doors of the former Home
Bank—still on display in the museum
as the entrance to the elevator—
have their own story to tell. In 1923
the collapse of the Home Bank lost
over $800,000 of Fernie residents’
money. The scandal caused a rewrite
of Canadian Banking Law, preventing
banks from taking such unmitigated
risks in the future and paving the way
for a robust and reliable Canadian
banking system that prevented
widespread bank failures during the
Great Depression.