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.
Permanent exhibits
The museum currently has the following permanent exhibits.
First Nations art and artifacts |
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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 |
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. |
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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1940s living room |
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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. |
Virtual Exhibits
The Museum currently has two online exhibits: Community Memories Project and Let's Play Ball.
Community Memories Project |
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. |
Let's Play Ball |
An online exhibit about the early history of baseball in Dryden and the Dryden Red Sox, featuring photographs and uniforms from the Dryden & District Museum collection. |
Community Curated Exhibits
The Dryden & District Museum has established partnerships with The Dryden Artists' Association and Open Roads Public School Fine Arts Program, hosting an annual exhibit by both groups. We have also established new partnerships with local photograph Eliana Wittwer as well as Rainbow Alliance Dryden who have developed exhibits for the Museum.
Have you ever had an idea for an exhibit and wanted to be a guest curator? Complete the Exhibit Proposal Form and return it to the Museum to discuss your idea with Museum Staff. Exhibits can range in size from a mini-exhibit or a large exhibit in the Leah Gardner Gallery.
The Dryden Buck
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.
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.
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