Our exhibits are changing!

Check our gallery renewal page for frequent updates.

Qilalukkat ~ Beluga Whales
North Gallery
See a beluga whale female and her calf, along with Inuvialuit artifacts related to belugas. Listen to the voices of people and belugas and learn about their connections in the Arctic.

Kuukpak: An Exhibition of Inuvialuit Artifacts
South Gallery
Kuukpak was the name of an ancient Inuvialuit village on the shores of Qangmaliq Bay, near the mouth of the Mackenzie River. This exhibit, which features hundreds of artifacts uncovered through archaeological excavations undertaken by the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre, reveals how the people who lived there built their dwellings, hunted, fished, made clothing and carried out other activities 500 years ago.

The Land Up Here
Orientation Gallery
The Land Up Here presents a general introduction to the history, people and languages of the Northwest Territories. This six and a half minute video is projected on a twelve foot by twelve foot screen and relief map in our orientation gallery and is available in five languages.
The Land Up Here is also available online.

Yellowknife: Then, Now & Again
Bridge area
November 2009 to February 2010
Compare Yellowknife's changing view points through photos taken in the early 1950s, 1984 and 2009.

The Big River - Deh Cho
Mezzanine
June 30, 2009 - September, 2010
A 120 foot-long display of Mackenzie River nautical charts with photos from the past one hundred years, this exhibit was put together by Fran Hurcomb of Yellowknife, who travelled the Big River in 2008 for the third time.

Photos in this exhibit have been chosen to show both the usage of the Big River and its almost unchanging waterscape.

Mackenzie Valley Air Mail 1929
Aviation Gallery
The use of airplanes to transport mail in the Northwest Territories was pioneered in 1929 by two legendary bush pilots, Clennell Haggerston ‘Punch’ Dickens and Wilfred R. ‘Wop’ May. This exhibit tells the story of their pioneering efforts through ‘covers’ (envelops with stamps and cancellations), archival photographs and artifacts.

The Mooseskin Boat
Feature Gallery
Learn about this mooseskin boat that was built by Mountain Dene from Fort Norman in the spring of 1981. This is the only mooseskin boat that has ever been preserved.

"NWT Rocks: From Minerals to Monitors"
Upper ramp area
Ongoing
See mineral samples from throughout the NWT and discover their uses. Learn about early prospectors lured north by the glitter of gold.

"Yamoria: the one who travels"
Feature Gallery
This exhibit features stories of Yamoria, the legendary Dene traveller and lawmaker.

NWT Archives: The Records of Mary Saich

Mary Lake was born in Quill Lake, Saskatchewan on November 26, 1913. In August 1940, she travelled on the S.S. Distributor to Aklavik where she had accepted a teaching position at All Saints Residential School. She taught in Aklavik for two years and returned to Biggar, Saskatchewan at the end of her teaching contract. She died on July 29, 2002 in Victoria, B.C.
View Mary's photos in the NWT Archives Photo Database.

NWT Archives: Henry Busse- Yellowknife's First Professional Photographer

As a companion to the Henry Busse website exhibit, enlargements of the photos are on display as well as some articles from Busse's shop.

View the online exhibit here.

Community Display Area

We invite community groups and individuals to use this area for their displays.

Do you have an idea for a community display? Is there an upcoming event your organization would like to celebrate? Contact our Education and Outreach Office (Ph: 920-3255)