Banff Park Museum, Natural history museum in downtown Banff, Canada
Banff Park Museum is a natural history museum in downtown Banff, housed in a 1903 log building designed by John Stocks. Its exposed log framing and rustic detailing led to the nickname "railway pagoda". Inside, original glass cases hold about 5,000 mounted specimens of animals, plants and minerals from Banff National Park.
The building was completed in 1903 and remains the oldest surviving federal structure in any Canadian national park. Its early rustic architectural style was pioneering for its time and influenced later park buildings.
The display cases show how people viewed natural history a century ago, with mounted animals and plants arranged for study and display. Visitors can see the working methods and interests of early museum professionals in this setting.
The museum is located on Banff Avenue in the downtown area and is easy to reach on foot. Plan to spend at least an hour or so to explore the exhibit at a relaxed pace.
From 1905 to 1937 a small zoo stood behind the museum, holding exotic and non-native animals; at its 1914 peak it had 36 birds in an aviary and 50 mammals. When it closed, 46 animals, including wolves, lynx and black, cinnamon and polar bears, went to the Calgary Zoo.
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