Updates from the Rossland Museum ♡

Thank you, Libby

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Elizabeth "Libby" Martin (1940-2025), a long-time Museum volunteer, Board member, Board President, and friend. Born in England's Lake District, Libby came to Rossland in the mid-1960s in search of adventure -- without any intention of staying in the Kootenays. "But it just happened," she told us. "As it does to many."

Libby and her entire family were deeply involved in the Rossland community, and Libby gave back to this town in so many ways, including teaching high school, coaching school sports, volunteering at ski racing events, with the Rossland Thrift Store and the Rossland Museum, and so much more. She began volunteering with the Museum in the early 2000s as part of the Friends of the Rossland Museum group, leading a committee of volunteers to update the ski history exhibits. As Board President from 2010 to 2021, Libby was one of the major driving forces behind the revitalization that followed the closure of the original mine tour. What the Museum is today is due to her tenacity, creativity, hard work, and mentorship.

We shall miss her kindness, her humour, her perspective, and her sense of adventure. Thank you, Libby.

Read Libby’s Full Obituary

Fall Youth Programs

Drop by with your little one to enjoy Little Paws Free Play (ages 0-6)
Explore the wonders of nature with our Young Naturalists Thursday after-school program (ages 6-12). This week, we're learning about the magical networks of mycelium that support our local forests, and the mushrooms they produce.

*STEAM Saturdays is now STEAM Days*
You can stop in Saturday or Sunday between 10 am and 12 pm to take part in our all-ages program with crafts and experiments for the whole family!

Learn More

Upcoming Events

2025 AGM and Community Open House

5:30 pm | Tuesday, November 25th

If you want to learn more about what we do up at the museum, our long-term plans, our mission, current projects, and future goals, check in at our upcoming AGM! We'll be going over the projects and achievements from our 2024-25 year, the state of our Renewal Project, and more. Plus, explore the back rooms and underbellies of our museum space, with special behind-the-scenes tours of our collections storage and archives, and check out our favourite short films about the Old Glory Weather Station!

We're a community-led museum - so your input and attendance matter! Everyone is welcome to attend, and all current members have AGM voting rights - not to mention year-round access to the museum, guest passes, and discounts on programs and the museum shop! Be sure to renew your membership before the AGM.

November Speaker Series with Judy Pollard: “The Distance: Dreams and Despair”

6 pm | Thursday, November 27th

Join us at the Museum for a special reading and book talk with Kootenay author Judy Pollard! We'll be hearing about her latest book: The Distance: Dreams and Despair.

Rekindle Holiday Workshop 2025

Rekindle is almost here! Don't forget to visit the Museum on Saturday, December 6th, to join in the celebrations. We're hosting a one-stop shop for kids to handcraft some of their holiday gifts this year, so drop by between 10 am and 4 pm to try our craft stations and gift-wrap solutions. With craft options and DIY decor geared for ages 4-12, there's something for everyone on the list!

We'll have snacks, hot chocolate, and a festive scavenger hunt! The Museum Shop is filled to the brim with gift options and stocking stuffers, including kids' games and hands-on science kits, prints and jewelry by local artists, our book section, and more. Stop by to enter the Rekindle draw!

December Speaker Series with Richie Mann: Packing for the 1956 Yukon Geological Expedition

Richie Mann returns to the Rossland Museum for another captivating Speaker Series presentation - this time sharing the remarkable story of driving pack horses during a 1956 Geological Expedition in the Yukon Territory. Join us at the Rossland Museum & Discovery Centre at 6 pm on Thursday, December 11th to hear the tale! Featuring Richie's signature storytelling and stunning photographs captured on his Brownie Hawkeye camera, this promises to be another can’t-miss evening.

Collection Highlights

2023.5.4 - MacLean School t-shirt

Designed by Sharon Ham in the 1970s as part of a school logo contest
MacLean Elementary School, located at the corner of St. Paul Street and Second Avenue, opened in 1918 and was the main elementary school in Rossland from 1918 - 1981
A fire temporarily shut down the school in 1981, but it reopened in 1983
MacLean was permanently closed in 2012/2013; the building was sold to École des Sept-sommets in 2013

2020.8.1 - RHS class of 1948 reunion hat

Hat from the Rossland High School Class of 1948 reunion in 1984
After the 1917 Central School fire, the high school grades were moved to Cook Avenue School and given the name Rossland High School
RHS operated out of Cook Avenue School from 1918 - 1951
A new high school was built in 1951 at Jubilee Street, still using RHS name
RHS changed their name to Rossland Secondary School in 1961, making the 1960 graduating class the last RHS class

Explore the Collection

Community Quandaries

Do you remember Mukker Wear - a Rossland clothing company in the 2000s? We would love to know more about the company and the person who ran it! Please let us know! Email archives@rosslandmuseum.ca or call 250-362-7722.

Gift Shop Highlights

It’s the month of Dinovember - visit the Museum, and you’ll see dinosaur figures hidden around the exhibits! But the fun doesn’t stop there - we’ve got all kinds of dinosaur-themed crafts, toys, games — even earrings — in stock! Stop by or shop online to find the perfect gift for the dino-lover in your life!

Shop Now

In Case You Missed It…

Renewal Project Updates

We're continuing to make exciting progress on our Renewal Project! Read more about the status of the project - including questions about funding, next steps, and benefits to local taxpayers - on our recent blog post.