(9:35am May 16) We're having some technical difficulties at the Town office this morning. Phone service may be intermittent, as well as server access, which impacts our ability to process certain items. We apologize for any inconveniences while we address it.
Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Archives are available by appointment only. Admission by donation.
The Peace River Centennial Museum was opened in 1967 as part of the celebration of Canada’s Centennial. The Sir Alexander Mackenzie Historical Society, the Town of Peace River, and the Women’s Institute were instrumental in establishing the museum site and collection.
The Town of Peace River took over ownership of the Museum in 2003. The building was expanded in 2004 and 2006. Our name changed to the Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre in 2007.
Feature Exhibit
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The Peace River Museum, Archives and Mackenzie Centre and the Town of Peace River are thrilled to announce the opening of Cipher |Decipher, a new exhibition developed by Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, in partnership with the Communications Security Establishment (CSE).
Providing visitors with a rare and exciting opportunity to view an authentic Second World War Enigma cipher machine, Cipher|Decipher breaks down communications encryption: what it is, how it works, and how it affects our lives. The exhibition showcases a wide range of historic communications encryption artifacts on loan from the CSE, and contains both hands-on and digital experiences, as well as custom illustrations that visually demonstrate key processes in cybersecurity, and making and breaking ciphers. Visitors will be able to scramble their own messages using a cipher wheel, see how an Enigma cipher machine works, and tackle puzzles to learn if they have what it takes to work in the field of cryptology. The exhibit is on display until May 17.
Explore What We Offer
From galleries showcasing our history, a gift shop stocked with locally made products and archives collecting the recorded history of the region our Musuem has a lot to explore!
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The Peace River Archives has a variety of resources for public use. This includes our archival collection, reference files on various properties, businesses, and people, an obituary catalog, and a reference library that contains local and regional books. Appointments can be made by calling the Museum.
Our Gift Shop features local artists and Peace Country producers as well as local and regional history books. You can find a variety of products such as honey, jewelry, postcards, art prints, mugs, and Peace River inspired clothing. If you are looking for a unique gift or souvenir, our Gift Shop is a great place to start!
This gallery is home to our temporary exhibits. These include local history as well as travelling exhibits from other museums. New and topical displays are planned out each year to fill this space.
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The Town of Peace River has a wonderfully diverse past, and we showcase parts of this past in the Peace River Gallery. From prehistoric history and local Indigenous people into the present day, we examine the Town and the people, both past and present, who call it home.
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This room tells the story of Sir Alexander Mackenzie and his journeys through the West. Artifacts include archeological finds from Fort Fork, the 18th-century compound where Sir Alexander Mackenzie wintered while on his way to the Pacific coast. The display also features the fur trade in western Canada, with examples of the types of furs trapped in the area, a replica of a fur trader’s canoe and an authentic fur press.
