Exhibits at the Dryden & District Museum feature the Dryden area's local history. The upper level of the museum features permanent exhibits. The main floor has rotating exhibits that change about every three months. The museum also displays work by local artists and occasionally hosts artifacts from private collectors.
Permanent exhibits
The museum currently has the following permanent exhibits.
| First Nations art and artifacts |
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 See a variety of stone tools and beautiful beadwork. Learn about pre-European fishing and hunting traditions.
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| Pioneer tools |
 See the tools used by settlers to build their new life in Dryden and bring agriculture to the area. |
| General store, a representation of 'P' Square operated by Alfred Pitt |
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 Stop by the general store to see goods and wares from pioneer days. Production was either done locally or goods were ordered from catalogues such as the Eaton's Company catalogue.
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| 1900s pioneer kitchen |
 See how meals were prepared with a wood stove and cooking utensils from the early 1900s. Try to imagine life without plumbing and refrigeration! |
| 1930s bedroom |
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 A single woman who immigrated to Canada would have stayed at a boarding house. We feature what a room would have looked like in the 1930s.
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| 1940s living room |
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 See where the family would have gathered in the 1940s. In a time before TVs and computers, record players were a source of entertainment.
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| 1950s kitchen |
 Household technologies were quickly entering the home and the changes seen in the kitchen impacted the life of women. The road to what a modern kitchen now looks like also began. |
The Dryden Buck
Every year, hunters from all over North America come to northwest Ontario in search of white-tailed deer. Many flock to the Dryden area due to its history of producing large bucks. The "Dryden Buck" (displayed in the museum's main stairwell) was shot just north of Dryden in the fall of 2003.
A score could not take place because the police held the body as evidence. Ontario courts convicted the hunter that killed the buck of night hunting, trespassing, and abandoning meat. In his greed, the hunter displayed a complete lack of respect for the ethics and laws that play an important role in ensuring the future of wildlife populations.
In January 2005, the buck was scored and unofficially ranked 192 7/8 typical white-tailed deer, setting a new Ontario record. It is now displayed in the museum to show some of the rich resources of the area and to serve as a reminder to respect wildlife laws.
For more information about these laws, contact the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.
Each summer the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry includes the "Dryden Buck" in an educational program that travels across Ontario. The Buck is returned to the Museum in the fall.
Virtual exhibit
The Dryden & District Museum participated in the Virtual Museum Community Memories Project in 2005. The project focused on human interaction with nature through an online exhibition.
| Past Exhibits |
| 2019 |
Making a Home: Early Women of Dryden
“Making a Home: Early Women of Dryden” shares stories about settler women who helped build Dryden and district’s sense of community. This exhibit looks at the first 50 years of Dryden’s settlement and highlights some of the women who were homesteaders, business women, teachers, and more.
Seen with my eyes, captured through my lens
The Dryden & District Museum was excited to exhibit the work of local photographer, Eliana Wittwer. The exhibit “Seen with my eyes, captured through my lens” displayed photographs taken during Eliana's travels, local flora and fauna, and portraits.
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| 2018 |
Fibre Content 2018
The Dryden & District Museum hosedt the Fibrations’ Winter 2018 travelling exhibit, titled “Fibre Content 2018”.
This traveling exhibit included textiles, quilts and clothing items that have been made by fibre artists, along with textiles from the Museum’s permanent collection.
Medical History
The Dryden & District Museum hosted the travelling exhibits: The Promotion of Healthy Living and Medical Records in Ontario from the Archives of Ontario. The Museum also featured local medical history, such as early doctors in Dryden and the history of the hospitals.
Sunday in the Park
This exhibit was designed by museum staff and features photographs from Dryden community picnics will be on display, as well as artifacts from the collection relating to outdoor summer gatherings. The Museum has also worked with local naturalists to provide information and photographs of birds found in the area.
Open Roads Fine Arts Program: This is Us
This is Us featured artwork by students in the Open Roads Fine Arts Program. Students in grade 6, 7, and 8 created artwork that features local landscapes, reflect the Grandfather teachings of Ojibway culture, self-portraits, and other art that reflect the students' lives, experiences and interests.
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| 2017 |
We Were Taught Differently: The Indian Residential School Exhibit
The travelling exhibit, “We Were Taught Differently: The Indian Residential School Experience” from the Lake of the Woods Museum, was on display from September 30th to November 17th.
This exhibit examined the Indian residential school experience and included the six schools in Treaty #3. It featured powerful photographs, archival material, and personal recollections from residential school survivors.
Pioneer Days: When We Were Young
To celebrate Canada 150, we wanted to celebrate their early history and role in the making of Canada. This exhibit featured artifacts that have not been on display before such as a seed cleaner, school desks, and a replica water pump. The story of the First Nations Peoples was shared, as well as the story of the first pioneer. On display from July 1st to September 21st.
Hometown Proud: Hockey History of Dryden
The DREAM Committee asked the museum to help celebrate Hometown Proud Month in July with an exhibit about the Hockey History in Dryden. The Dryden Minor Hockey Association provided a list of everyone who played for them and where their hockey career led them over time. Biographies of local hockey heroes were featured. On display from July 1st to September 21st.
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