What's on ?
The Durham Gallery - Rotating Exhibit Space
This gallery is named for Thompson Edwin Durham, 1st curator of the museum. The gallery features a rotation of short term exhibits – some form the museum’s collection while others are travelling exhibits from other museums.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Check this page for updates!
Monthly Themed Display Case
Finnish History in Sault Ste. Marie - Artifacts and photos from the Ontario Finnish Rest Home Collection
2016
2017
Celebrating 150 years of Sault Ste. Marie History
Sept - Dec 2017
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A Ontario150 funded exhibition featuring 150 years of life and development in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The exhibition features various artefacts, as well as historic photographs depicting the different features, areas, and aspects of life in Sault Ste. Marie.
The exhibition was opened for the Heritage Block Party event held as a Ontario150 celebration in SSM. |
Vimy: a Sault Perspective & Vimy - Battle. Memorial. Icon. a travelling exhibition produced by the Canadian War Museum | Apr. 8, 2017- Aug. 10, 2017
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A two part exhibition featuring panels on loan from the Canadian War Museum, as well as an in-house curated exhibition exploring the links of the community of Sault Ste. Marie and the Battle of Vimy Ridge, c. 1917.
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Historic Stitches | Nov 2016 - Jan 2017
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Description
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2018
Rotary 100 Exhibition
July 12, 2018 to October 2018
2018 marks the Downtown Sault Ste. Marie Rotary Club's 100th anniversary. Explore 100 years of history from the founding of the Club to their main contributions to the community of Sault Ste. Marie.
The first two weeks of the exhibition featured an Iron Lung, temporarily on loan to the SSM Museum as it makes its way around North America.
July 12, 2018 to October 2018
2018 marks the Downtown Sault Ste. Marie Rotary Club's 100th anniversary. Explore 100 years of history from the founding of the Club to their main contributions to the community of Sault Ste. Marie.
The first two weeks of the exhibition featured an Iron Lung, temporarily on loan to the SSM Museum as it makes its way around North America.
Celebrating the Legion-Branch 25 & the 2310 Army Cadets
Feb. 9, 2018 to June 2018
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This exhibition celebrated the longstanding history of the Legion-Branch 25 (celebrating their 90th anniversary) & the 2310 Army Cadets (celebrating their 70th anniversary).
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The Algoma Art Society's 70th Anniversary Exhibition
March 1, 2018 to May 31, 2018
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In celebration of the Algoma Art Society's 70th Anniversary, the Sault Ste. Marie Museum will host an exhibition featuring the work of 33 Algoma Art Society members (both past and present).
The exhibition was on display in the Discovery Gallery. |
2020
Through The Lens
February 2020 to November 2020
Our Through The Lens Exhibit detailed the Film, Music, Radio and Broadcasting history of Sault Ste. Marie.
2021
BON SOO: A RETROSPECTIVE
Visit our Bon Soo Exhibit! Opened February 2021
Visit our Bon Soo Exhibit! Opened February 2021
ART & ARTIFACT: INTERSECTIONS VIRTUAL TOUR
Exploring the supposed boundaries between art object, medium, and context, this exhibition draws on the Sault Ste. Marie Museum's Fine Art Collection paired with carefully selected artefacts. Viewers are enticed to examine the rich cultural fabric, community history, industrial development, and heritage while drawing relations between both Art and Artifact. Opened July 2021.
Remembrance Day: Ken Hanson Art Display
Ken Hansen is a 98-year-old veteran who served in WWII under the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Ken’s amazing collection consists of an abundance of original watercolour pieces, and sketches that he created throughout his time spent during WWII. His artwork brings to life the soldiers, the aircraft, the places and significant events during WWII.
The artwork created by Ken that is on display in the military gallery has greatly contributed to the sharing of that history to the local community, surrounding region and greatly promotes our proud Canadian military heritage.
The artwork created by Ken that is on display in the military gallery has greatly contributed to the sharing of that history to the local community, surrounding region and greatly promotes our proud Canadian military heritage.
#hopeandhealingcanada by Tracey Mae Chambers
Tracey is a Métis installation artist and a member of the Métis Nation of Ontario. Her family is from and some still reside in the traditional Métis community in Sault Ste Marie and Penetanguishene, Ontario. She is traveling Canada and the USA creating site specific art installations at residential school historical sites, cultural centres, museums, art galleries and other public spaces. The goal of these works are to broach the subject of decolonization with viewers and staff. The installations are created with large premade crochet, and knit pieces made with red yarn.
2022
PERPLEXITY
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International Museum Day ExhibitThe Sault Ste. Marie Museum and Entomica have partnered together to help celebrate the importance of Natural History. A pop-up exhibit has been installed in our Durham Gallery and will feature various specimen displays from Entomica and related artifacts from our collections here at the museum.
We will also have a special guest from the Horticulture Society to assist with a hands on plant and seed activity from 11:00am to 1:00pm. The Sault Ste. Marie Museum and Entomica would like to thank the Horticulture Society for kindly sponsoring the materials for our interactive planting activity. |
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“Our Guides are Really Going Places: Nbisiing Guides and the Legacy of Paul Commanda” Exhibit
Between 1901 and 1958, guides from the Nbisiing (Nipissing), Omuskego, and Eeyou (James Bay Cree in present-day Ontario and Quebec) Nations led naturalists from the Carnegie Museum in Pittsburgh on 25 expeditions through northern Ontario, Quebec, and Labrador.
This exhibit was developed by the North Bay Museum in partnership with Nipissing First Nation, Dokis First Nation and Nipissing University.
The exhibit features stories and photographs of the Indigenous guides (including Paul Commanda) who led the Carnegie Museum expeditions, honouring their work and their contributions to science. Carnegie Museum collections are shared through a large-scale print of a Snow Goose diorama and a display of specimens collected on the expeditions featured.
The exhibit also includes beaded artwork inspired by the Carnegie Expeditions by artist Carrie Allison.
This exhibit was developed by the North Bay Museum in partnership with Nipissing First Nation, Dokis First Nation and Nipissing University.
The exhibit features stories and photographs of the Indigenous guides (including Paul Commanda) who led the Carnegie Museum expeditions, honouring their work and their contributions to science. Carnegie Museum collections are shared through a large-scale print of a Snow Goose diorama and a display of specimens collected on the expeditions featured.
The exhibit also includes beaded artwork inspired by the Carnegie Expeditions by artist Carrie Allison.
The Lake Nipissing Beading Project
The Lake Nipissing Beading Project, is a 5-metre beaded reimagining of Lake Nipissing and its waterways using 444 individually beaded pieces to show respect and acknowledge the importance of this waterway to those across this continent. The beadwork installation will travel to museums across Northern Ontario from 2022-2023.
During this community-collaborative project, participants from Nipissing First Nation, Dokis First Nation, and other communities across Turtle Island beaded 444 individual pieces of the lake and its waterways. They have also shared stories about the portion of the waterways they beaded, the design they chose, and their personal connection to the lake and the creative practice involved in beading.
This project was created by and is being led by beading artist Carrie Allison (Nêhiyaw/Cree, Métis Treaty 8, MFA, NSCAD 2018) and Dr. Kirsten Greer (Canada Research Chair in Global Environmental Histories and Geographies, NU) in partnership with Dokis First Nation and Nipissing First Nation.
For more information on the projects and the team involved, please visit the exhibit websites at www.nipissingguides.com and www.lakenipissingbeadingproject.com.
During this community-collaborative project, participants from Nipissing First Nation, Dokis First Nation, and other communities across Turtle Island beaded 444 individual pieces of the lake and its waterways. They have also shared stories about the portion of the waterways they beaded, the design they chose, and their personal connection to the lake and the creative practice involved in beading.
This project was created by and is being led by beading artist Carrie Allison (Nêhiyaw/Cree, Métis Treaty 8, MFA, NSCAD 2018) and Dr. Kirsten Greer (Canada Research Chair in Global Environmental Histories and Geographies, NU) in partnership with Dokis First Nation and Nipissing First Nation.
For more information on the projects and the team involved, please visit the exhibit websites at www.nipissingguides.com and www.lakenipissingbeadingproject.com.
2023
Ray Fox Exhibition: Baawitigong
an exploration on Anishinaabe history and personal identity
Typography: The Art of Type
Advertising in Sault Ste. Marie has a long history, much like it does in any City across the world. Signage, Murals, Billboards, the invention of the printing press, the introduction of computers, and the continued evolution of technology all have a key role to play in the History of Advertising.
Whether it be Carvers, Blacksmiths, Typographers, Illustrators, Graphic Designers; each of these professions have lent a hand in promoting the local business scene and letting both the community and visitors know about what Sault Ste. Marie and its abundance of local businesses have to offer.
January - April 2023
Whether it be Carvers, Blacksmiths, Typographers, Illustrators, Graphic Designers; each of these professions have lent a hand in promoting the local business scene and letting both the community and visitors know about what Sault Ste. Marie and its abundance of local businesses have to offer.
January - April 2023
Dear Sadie
Archives of Ontario Traveling Exhibit
January - April 2023
January - April 2023
Algoma University Visual Arts Showcase
March 2023
Bandettes 60th Anniversary Display
September 2023
50th Anniversary of The Sault Theatre Workshop
September 2023
Algoma Art Society Show & Sale
December 2023
2024
TREASURES FROM THE COLLECTION
The Sault Ste. Marie Museum is working on reorganizing our storage spaces and wanted to bring out some of our treasures that often don't make it on exhibit.
From the original streetcar fare box, the first electric refrigerator sold in Canada by Westinghouse, and many interesting artifacts deep within our collection are all on display.
January - March 2024
From the original streetcar fare box, the first electric refrigerator sold in Canada by Westinghouse, and many interesting artifacts deep within our collection are all on display.
January - March 2024
ECHOES: Algoma University Visual Arts Exhibition
🖼️ On display from March 23 - 30th, 2024
ENDOPLASMS
April 9th - 27th 2024
Opening April 11th 7 pm
Endoplasmes est une collaboration entre trois artistes francophones qui se veut un lieu de création et d'échange. Semblables aux réticulums endoplasmiques des cellules végétales qui agissent comme point de communication entre le nucleus et le cytoplasme, nous sommes aussi toutes les trois en interrelation pour enrichir l'une et l'autre de nos expériences.
Endoplasmes is a collaboration between three French-speaking artists that aims to be a place of creation and exchange. Similar to the endoplasmic reticulum of plant cells which act as a point of communication between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, the three of us are also interrelated to enrich each other with our experiences.
Kyrstiana Bourdage
Isa Michaud
Dediche Ngoy
Opening April 11th 7 pm
Endoplasmes est une collaboration entre trois artistes francophones qui se veut un lieu de création et d'échange. Semblables aux réticulums endoplasmiques des cellules végétales qui agissent comme point de communication entre le nucleus et le cytoplasme, nous sommes aussi toutes les trois en interrelation pour enrichir l'une et l'autre de nos expériences.
Endoplasmes is a collaboration between three French-speaking artists that aims to be a place of creation and exchange. Similar to the endoplasmic reticulum of plant cells which act as a point of communication between the nucleus and the cytoplasm, the three of us are also interrelated to enrich each other with our experiences.
Kyrstiana Bourdage
Isa Michaud
Dediche Ngoy
FRENCH IN CANADA & A LOCAL PERSPECTIVE
LE FRANÇAIS AU CANADA ET UNE PERSPECTIVE LOCALE
Travelling exhibition June 7th - 29th
LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE
Exploring mapping through the Sault Ste. Marie Museum's archives.
Take an up-close look at maps, photos and local paper ephemera from the archives, and participate in our ongoing Community Threads project!
July - August 15
Take an up-close look at maps, photos and local paper ephemera from the archives, and participate in our ongoing Community Threads project!
July - August 15
Our permanent galleries house a collection of artifacts donated to the Museum by community members and organizations.
First floor
The Walter Wallace Military Gallery
This gallery is dedicated to Lt. Col. Walter Wallace, past commanding officer of the 49th Field Regiment RCA, past president of Royal Canadian Legion – Branch 25 and past president of the Sault Ste. Marie & 49th Field Regiment RCA Historical Society
NEWLY RENOVATED
NEWLY RENOVATED
Second floor
The Skylight Gallery
The Skylight Gallery tells the story of Sault Ste. Marie from its early beginnings. Explore local history through a series of exhibit vignettes using artifacts, photos, maps and text.
The Discovery Gallery
The Discovery Gallery is a children’s area which contains artifacts and features nature species, photographs and a dress-up area
Third floor
The Russell H. Ramsay Sports Hall of Fame
Dedicated to Russell H. Ramsay; local sportscaster, president & general manager of Hyland Radio & TV. He served as an Alderman on city council and served as the MPP for Sault Ste. Marie 1978-1985. The local artifacts and photos featured in this gallery showcase a wide variety of sports from 1800's onward. A video presentation highlights various sports in Sault Ste. Marie and the people involved.
Through the Port Hole
This exhibit area offers a pictorial display of early Great Lakes cruise ships, a brief history of the Locks, a scale model of the Edmund Fitzgerald and the Chicora. A replica scale model of the lighthouse “Sisters Light” is also showcased in the exhibit.
Naturally Gifted
This exhibit showcases Sault Ste. Marie and area musicians and bands through the ages. Explore the history of the Sault Ste. Marie music scene; from our early beginnings, bands popular in the 1950's and 1960's, to the local musicians we listen to today.
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The Museum is covered in
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Activity SheetsEvery child is given a sheet to complete as they walk through the museum! Keep the young ones engaged and learning something new with every visit.
A momento button prize is chosen by every child, upon leaving! |
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Interactive DisplaysBuild a log cabin, try on dresses and jackets, hold a practice gun, wash clothes on a washboard and so much more.
Touch, Play and Learn! |
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