THE CANADIAN MUSEUM OF MAKING

OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IN 2024 WAS REFINING THE MESSAGE VISITORS RECEIVE WHEN THEY VISIT THE MUSEUM. WE LOOKED AT THE REASONS PEOPLE WANT TO COME AND SEE THE COLLECTION AND MADE VISITS AS INFORMATIVE AND INSPIRING AS POSSIBLE .MOST PEOPLE COME BECAUSE THEY ARE HIGHLY SKILLED IN THEIR CHOSEN FILED ; THE CURIOSITY AND CREATIVITY WHICH DROVE THEM TO BE SUCCESSFUL MAKES THEM WILLING TO TAKE A DAY TO EXPLORE THE THINKING THAT CREATED THE MUSEUM. GROUPS INCLUDE BUSINESS LEADERS SKILLED TRADES PEOPLE MACHINING MECHANICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERS ARTIST HISTORIAN COMMUNITY LEADERS DESIGNERS STUDENTS CRAFTSPEOPLE AND EVEN SCOUTS AND VENTURES. BY LOOKING AT THE EFFORT IT TAKES TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN THE MUSEUM STRUCTURE AND COLLECTION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXAMINE THE SKILL AND JOY EXPRESSED IN THE MAKING OF THINGS THEY GAIN A RENEWED AWARENESS OF HOW MUCH FUN IT CAN BE TO WORK ON PROBLEM SOLVING OF ANY SCALE. WE HOPE A VISIT TO A PLACE CELEBRATING EXPLORATION AND INNOVATION AS A CREATIVE EXPRESSION WILL GIVE CONTEMPORARY PEOPLE HISTORIC CONTEXT AND ENCOURAGEMENT IN THEIR OWN WORK. WE FIND TOURS ARE A GREAT WAY TO BUILD CONNECTIONS. OUR LOCATION AND UNIQUE FACILITY CAN ONLY HOST SO MANY SO WE TRY TO REACH SMALL GROUPS WE THINK WILL BENEFIT AND HELP US SPREAD THE WORD IN THE WORKING RATHER THAN THEORETICAL COMMUNITY .

WE REDESIGNED THE SYSTEM TO START AND OPERATE THE BIG ENGINE IN THE POWERHOUSE. THIS HAS ALLOWED US TO RELIABLY START THE ENGINE FOR VISITORS AND DEMONSTRATE THE WAY THE ROD LINE SYSTEM PUMPS MULTIPLE OILWELL PUMPJACKS UTILIZING THE NATURAL GAS FOUND IN THE OILFIELD AS FUEL FOR THE ENGINE. WE CONSULTED WITH THE MILITARY MUSEUM IN CALGARY IN THE RESTORATION OF A CHURCHILL TANK. WE GAVE ADVICE ON METAL CONSERVATION AND MAY STILL FABRICATE SOME REPLACEMENT PARTS TO BE INSTALLED WHEN THE RESTORATION IS COMPLETE. RESTORATION OF THE 1893 FAÇADE ON THE QUEENS HOTEL OF CALGARY SALVAGED DURING DEMOLITION IN THE 1980’S THE MAKE WAY FOR THE CALGARY MUNICIPAL BUILDING THE DECORATIVE SHEET METAL CRESTING FROM THE HOTEL IS NOW PART OF THE RENOVATED SECOND FLOOR SPACE IN THE BARN THIS SPACE WILL HOUSE EXHIBITS AND SERVE AS MEETING AREA. WE DISCOVERED AND REPAIRED DAMAGE TO THE CABIN AREA OF THE MUSEUM CAUSED BY AN INFESTATION OF BATS. ALL THE WORKSHOPS’ ARE NOW HAVE ACCESS TO WIRELESS NETWORK AND HIGHSPEED INTERNET . THIS INCLUDES THE BARN MENTIONED ABOVE.