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School Programs The Education Committee and Galloway staff have developed interactive ways for students to learn about the Edson area in a manner directly linked to individual grade curriculum. Our programs primarily target elementary students, although we have options for all ages. Please be advised that each tour is unique and only certain programs include a guided tour through the entire museum, while others are focused on specific exhibits. All tours have educator program guides that provide a break-down of the tour, curriculum connections and classroom activities for before and after your visit. The Galloway Station Museum takes special care to develop student-centered programming that is in line with the curriculum guidelines as laid out by Alberta Education. Our tours are conducted in small groups and range from 90 to 120 minutes depending on student ages. This includes a craft and snack of a cookie and juice. Please inform us if there are any allergies in your group. Schools, scouts and girl guides, youth community organizations, and home school groups are eligible for school group admission rates and program options. My First Museum Visit Grades K-1 | 90 minutes Let us make the students' first visit a fun time! There is an emphasis on age-appropriate storytelling, hands-on exploration and craft. Enjoy a snack in the boardroom before departing. Then and Now Grade 2 | 105 minutes ‘Then and Now’ will help your students understand what their community would have been like in the past and how it has changed over time.‘Then and Now’ is geared towards Grade Two students and is 105 minutes in length. Students will be introduced to the Galloway Station Museum and become engaged in a fun learning atmosphere. Tours will focus on a mix of hands-on exploration and captivating storytelling to keep young minds focused. We will start discussions regarding the differences between Edson life in the past, and now. Students will have the opportunity to handle some artifacts. Enjoy a snack before departing. My Natural World Grade 3 | 120 minutes Ready to learn about wildlife in the Edson area? This tour is very hands-on! Handle real animal skulls and compare the differences. Match the animal prints, feel all the furs in our trapper’s cabin and become engaged in fun activities to understand animal life cycles. Enjoy a snack before departing. Natural Resources in the Edson Area Grades 4-5 | 120 minutes Edson is home to many natural resources such as oil and gas, agriculture, coal and lumber. These resources have played a major role in the development of Edson. Students will learn about these resources during a guided tour through our permanent exhibits. We will open discussions that examine how these resources have affected Edsonites over time. Our natural resource activity stations will reinforce what they have learned. Enjoy a snack before departing. Museum Mystery Grade 6 | 120 minutes You are deputized! Late in the evening on March 16, 1914, the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway local payroll was STOLEN! Local police officer Inspector Raven is on the case and he has six suspects. But wait! Your good friend Staghound Jack - the local gravedigger and handyman - is on the suspect list! You’ve known Staghound for many years and you know he’s innocent. Your job is to catch the thief by solving the puzzles you will be given to prove that Staghound Jack is an innocent man. Inspector Raven can’t do this alone, so he’s deputized you… now all you have to do is find the thief! Participants must work together to answer riddles, match fingerprints and analyze handwriting samples. General Tour Grades P-12 | 90-120 minutes Our general tour includes a brief overview of all exhibits in our museum. This tour is designed for everyone and will be modified for grade levels and time allowances. History will come alive as we explore differences between ‘then’ and ‘now’. If you would like to spend more time exploring a certain topic, please let us know in advance. Enjoy a snack before departing. For more information and prices, click here

FAQ's How do I get to the Galloway? The Galloway Station Museum is located at 223-55th Street in Edson, Alberta. Check our map and directions here! Is there a group or family discount? Prices are $15 for families. You can also find information on our School Programs and Private Group Tours. What kind of amenities does the Galloway have? Click here to see our full list of amenities. Can I bring food? Yes! You may enjoy your lunch at one of our bistro tables or on one of the couches in our visitor area. During the summer months, picnic tables and well-placed benches are located throughout RCMP Centennial Park, or bring a blanket and enjoy the ample green space. Please note that there is no food or drink permitted in exhibit areas. What is the Museum's accessibility? We have a conveniently located ramp outside and the exhibits and gift shop are set up to accommodate a wheelchair or stroller. Can I take pictures in the museum? Photography is allowed for personal, non-commercial use. You can even bring a selfie stick—just be courteous to other visitors. Show us your best pictures by tagging @GallowayStationMuseum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. I think I forgot/lost something during my visit. Lost items are held for at least 30 days. If you’ve lost personal items, such as clothing or toys, inquire at the Visitor Desk located in the entrance to the gift shop, or contact 780-723-5696. If you’ve lost valuables, such as a wallet, phone, or jewelry, please email: manager@gallowaystationmuseum.com. How can I donate items to the museum? Potential artifact donations are vetted through the Collection Management Committee. Click Donate to find out how. Can I host an event at Galloway Station Museum? The Galloway Station Museum hosts many special events, from weddings and engagements to corporate groups and fundraisers. Our maximum capacity is 130 people, and we can supply seating for 115. Learn more about are venue rental here.

Learn about the history of Edson and area while playing our virtual games! Games Coal Branch Word Search Let's Play Jeopardy(ish) Jigsaw Puzzles Memory Match

Read local historian Christopher White's thesis, ‘The Old Edson Cemetery: Investigations into an Early 20th Century Western Alberta Cemetery’. Baby Graves Christopher White, author of the paper ‘The Old Edson Cemetery: Investigations into an Early 20th Century Western Alberta Cemetery’ presented a talk and tour of the site in October 2012, July 2013 and September 2020. Christopher’s thesis uses archaeological survey and historic documentary sources to reconstruct past mortality patterns and understand mortuary practices from the early 20th century Edson Cemetery in Edson, Alberta. Results show that the cemetery existed foremost as a place to enshrine the individual identity of the deceased, with pragmatic concerns about public health and municipal development guiding the establishment, management and eventual abandonment of the site. Mortality patterns show a high number of infant and young childhood fatalities compared to their representation in the living population. Deceased infants received the same level of memorialization as adults, reflecting both a domestic and public identity. Adult mortality patterns follow known occupational risks while a spike in adult deaths in late 1918 coincides with the spread of the “Spanish Flu” epidemic. These findings highlight the importance of historic context and the value of documentary evidence for analyzing past mortuary behaviours. Click here to download The Old Edson Cemetery: Investigations into an Early 20th Century Western Alberta Cemetery. Tour images of the Glenwood Cemetery Photos by Christopher White Back to Reports

Explore all that there is to do and see in Edson and area with this glossy, magazine-style Visitor Guide created in-house!

Learn the history behind the monuments of RCMP Centennial Park, including our very own Eddie the Squirrel! Eddie the Squirrel There have been various stories regarding the adoption of Edson’s beloved mascot, Eddie the Squirrel over the years, however, according to an Edson Leader story from September 1973, the wives of Edson Town Council members were the genesis of this community’s furry representative. The ladies congregated over coffee one evening while their husbands were at a council meeting to brainstorm ways to promote Edson at an upcoming Alberta Urban Municipalities convention in Jasper. As it happens, Mrs. Millie Crawford (wife of Mayor Dr. Jim Crawford) had been purchasing little pottery squirrels that Art and Frances Ciciarelli made from Edson clay for quite a while to use as gifts. It was decided that if Jasper could claim a bear for their mascot, Edson could claim a squirrel. (We have heard the story that, to foster the friendly rivalry between Edson and Hinton, Mrs. Crawford said, “How about a squirrel because they think we’re all nuts anyway!” She was kidding, but everyone thought it was funny so they kept it. This was mentioned to Galloway staff by a relative, however it has not been verified.) The Ciciarelli’s, with the help of the aforementioned ladies, councillors, their children and anyone else that could be roped into helping, created 400 painted and glazed squirrels for the AUM delegates. Among other promotional items, they also created badges with squirrels on them and wrote the town name on 100 pounds of peanuts for Edson Councillors to hand out wherever they went. From the Edson Leader: Now while Edson’s Town Council members are involved with the serious business of Alberta’s urban problems, their wives will be busy as hostesses making darn sure that everyone who attends the convention will KNOW WHERE EDSON IS LOCATED the next time they are asked. In 1980, a cement Eddie the Squirrel, designed by Trygve Seland, was installed and proudly welcomed travelers to the visitor centre in front of the Edson Chamber of Commerce office in RCMP Centennial Park for about 30 years. In 2009, Eddie Sr. was given a well-earned retirement. In 2011, in conjunction with the reopening of the Galloway Station Museum & Travel Centre, Eddie Jr. (designed by Skookum Creative Works) was unveiled in the center of the park, complete with a cast bronze spruce cone and a stylized airbrush paint job. The inspiration for Eddie the Squirrel is a great story of a community coming together to promote the Town of Edson in a light-hearted, entertaining fashion. In any incarnation, Eddie has always been a draw for travelers and locals, with thousands of people stopping in to pose with our large red squirrel. Check out more pics of Eddie the Squirrel and upload your own! Yellowhead Ram The western slopes of the Rocky Mountains have been home to bighorn sheep (Ovis Canadenais) for thousands of years, and the Cadomin area has produced the biggest in the world. This monument is a tribute to the wildlife of this area and is dedicated to the organizations and individuals whose responsible stewardship has ensured and will continue to ensure the survival and growth of all our wilderness resources. In memory of Vicky Low. Lockheed T-33 Silver Star Per Ardua Ad Astra Through Diversity To The Stars CT - 133 Silver Star Dedicated as a memorial to the historical years of the Royal Canadian Air Force 1924-1968 it's members and affiliates Dedicated Victoria Day, 19, May, 1986, in Edson, Alberta By the Officers and Cadets 874 Tiger Moth Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets and Sponsors Edson Lions Club Re-dedication of the CT133097 September 8, 2018 874 Tiger Moth Squadron Royal Canadian Air Cadets

The Galloway is not only a museum but also an AVIP-certified travel centre and gift shop featuring works made by local artists! Visitor Guide Learn more Travel Centre Learn more Blog Learn more Community Welcome Project Learn more

All the information for the exhibits at the Galloway Station Museum have been researched (complete with sources), or are in the process of being researched and reports are updated when new information becomes available. The origin of our research sources vary and include history books, accredited university papers, local archives, newspapers and local experts. All sources are cited in report footnotes. If you have input regarding any of the Galloway Station Museum’s research or exhibits, please contact us at manager@gallowaystationmuseum.com . Reports Early Edson History A Brief History of Early Edson and Area The Coal Branch Coal Branch: Forever Home History of the Edson Caboose A Brief Look at 77704 The Edson to Grand Prairie Trail Gateway to the Last Best West Liveries A Brief History of Liveries Planting a Flag in the Muskeg History of Early Edson and Area Royalty in the Muskeg Life of Prince Leo Galitzine History of Policing in Edson Lawkeepers and Law Breakers Flying Into History Wop May and the First Aerial Police Chase Check out this Comic Book! Colourful Characters Interesting People from Edson and Area To Flight and Back A Tale of Friendship and the Second World War Look Behind You, Neighbor A Play Celebrating Edson's 50th Anniversary The 'Baby Graves' The Old Edson Cemetery War As We Knew It A personal look at the World Wars Edson's Unknown Soldier A Sergeant in the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade Mr. Poucher and Edson's early years British subject J Mellor Poucher lived in Edson during the early years and sent the Town of Edson a recording of his memories from that time. This video includes his memories and pictures of Edson from 1912 to late 1914. Robb: The Early Days A Video Exploring the History of Robb Civil Defence Bunkered in Edson! Not Invisible Métis Women in the Fur Trade One Crossing at a Time The Story of the Rosevear Ferry

The Resilience Project is a multifaceted project undertaken by the Edson & District Historical Society in collaboration with CANOE to showcase the role of arts and culture in community recovery, promoting a sense of togetherness and celebrating our home. The Resilience Project is a multifaceted project undertaken by The Edson & District Historical Society in collaboration with CANOE to showcase the role of arts and culture in community recovery, promoting a sense of togetherness and celebrating our home. This project was made possible through a grant from Department of Canadian Heritage's Commemorate Canada - Reopening Fund . 1/10 CANOE is an acronym for Culture and Arts Network Of Edson and as the name implies, it is a group of individuals, companies and organizations whose mandate is to contribute to the arts community in the West Yellowhead town of Edson and the surrounding area. The Resilience Project consists of several component parts, including a series of five murals designed and created on local buildings to beautify these buildings and bring a sense of pride and togetherness. Switzer's Drugs Artist - Brie Adkins The Heart of Edson Gallery & Studio artists - Andrew Visser & Pat Jakubiec Royal Canadian Legion -Joe Wynne Branch 51 artist - Madison Sharman Timberjack Home Hardware Building Centre artists - the community and Madison Sharman Henry Family Vision Care artist - Berg Felsing Concurrently, the committee approached a number of area residents who were identified as having unique stories - but all exemplify the theme of resilience. Those residents formed the nucleus of the remaining components which included a series of portraits created by area photographers documenting the character and/or lives of the subjects. These images were used to create a gallery exhibition of fine art prints to be displayed at different venues and kept as an archive of the project. As well, a series of video interviews created by a local filmmaker and recorded for community archival purposes formed the basis of a documentary - Resilience - A Small Town Definition. From those interviews, a series of short accounts of the subjects was written and combined with the portraits to create a book - Resilience - A Collaboration. Five hundred copies of the book were printed and made available to the public free of charge and the documentary and the book are available below in both official languages. (The documentary contains French subtitles). Please note that Resilience - A Collaboration and Resilience - A Small Town Definition deal with content and themes that some may find distressing. 1/15 Resilience a collaboration A poignant written exploration of 15 individuals in the greater community who tell their stories with grace, humour and wit. Resilience - A Small Town Definition A full-length documentary highlighting the amazing stories of our 15 subjects, and their resilience and strength through adversity. Résilience une collaboration Une exploration écrite poignante de 15 personnes de la grande communauté qui racontent leurs histoires avec grâce, humour et esprit. Résilience - Définition d'une petite ville Un long métrage documentaire mettant en lumière les histoires de nos 15 sujets, leur résilience et leur force face à l'adversité. 1/99 The entire project is then wrapped up with a celebration gala at which the book, prints and documentary were unveiled and presented. Special thanks go out once again to the subjects of this book for their patience and time, to CANOE committee members, the Edson Photography Club and contributing photographers, the mural artists and businesses, the Galloway Station Museum staff, the Town of Edson, The Heart of Edson Gallery, SRVENT Freelance, our translators, and the Government of Canada. This project was made possible through a grant from Department of Canadian Heritage's Commemorate Canada - Reopening Fund and in-kind donations from the Town of Edson and the Edson & District Historical Society. The Resilience Project material is subject to copyright. Use of the above material in full or in part is subject to the approval of both The Edson & District Historical Society and The Culture and Arts Network of Edson.

On Display History Galloway Station The beginnings of the Town of Edson are intertwined with the history of the railway in the region. The Galloway Station exhibit explores the area's rich railway history and is the origin of the museum's name. Wildlife Our Natural World Discover the diverse wildlife of Alberta! The province boasts 587 species of wildlife, including 10 species of amphibians, 93 mammals, 411 birds, 8 reptiles and 65 fish. History Trapper's Cabin Trapping is an industry that is firmly rooted in Alberta’s history. Indigenous populations used the fur and hides for thousands of years and Europeans trapping in Western Canada date back to the mid 1600s. The Trapper’s Cabin gives an in-depth, hands-on look at the challenging life of a trapper in Alberta. History Rosevear Ferry The Rosevear Ferry was an integral part of the community and transportation system in the area. This display to commemorate the history and importance of the Rosevear Ferry was built by volunteers Kevin Hollaway (operator from 1980 to 2015) and Steve Parker (operator/contractor from 2008 to 2015). History Erith Tie Camp There were many lumber camps in the Edson area in the early 1900s, supplying the railways with much needed ties. The Erith Tie Camp on the Erith and Embarrass Rivers is used to explore lives in the area's early lumber camps. History Alberta Coal Branch An important part of Alberta's coal industry, the Alberta Coal Branch is a chain of almost abandoned mining towns along the eastern slopes of the central Canadian Rocky Mountains. It was once home to thousands of people, and remains a rich part of the region’s history. Artifact Peerless Printing Press The Peerless Printing Press was built in 1873 and came to Edson in 1928. Many early newspapers were printed on the Peerless, including the Edson-Jasper Signal. Thanks to dedicated volunteer Howard Bouldry, the press is a working artifact! History Main Street Also known as 50th Street, downtown Edson was one of the first streets in the town and held some of its more prominent buildings. In this exhibit you can find the Canadian National Railway Station, Edson Hotel, Switzer’s Drugs, the Barbershop and the Idyl Hour Theatre. History Wop May Explore the story of how Wilfrid May and Detective James Campbell landed on Main Street Edson in 1919 as part of the first aerial police chase in Canadian history! Temporary Display Through Their Eyes Our latest exhibit explores Edson’s early days through a rich collection of archival photographs. This exhibit brings to life the parades and picnics, businesses and ballgames — and even the long-forgotten story of Wolf Creek.

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