The Collections: Grand Prairie

The current facilities are seriously overcrowded and poorly laid out for present museum standards of operation. There are no environmental controls and there is no space to expand operational functions necessary to meet the expectations of a rapidly growing population in Grande Prairie and surrounding region. To address these needs, a Strategic Planning Study was carried out by Len Clark, Architect and Facilities Planner in 1997.

Since there is limited space available at the original museum site and the City opposed relocating the entire facility, the Clark study proposed a second, more accessible location. Therefore, the Year 2005 Project consists of two components:

At Grande Prairie Museum: The upgrade and expansion of administration, archives, collections care, storage and programming space at Grande Prairie Museum. This will require an addition of 4,600 square feet. The whole interior will be reconfigured and environmentally controlled areas determined for archival and artifact collections. Grounds displays and interpretation will add a 1896 Fur Trading Post, an equipment display building and outdoor pad.

At Centre 2000: The creation of a comprehensive, interpretive, 6,000 square foot regional permanent display, travelling exhibition gallery and a learning centre in an environmentally controlled space. Named Heritage Discovery Centre, it will be housed on the lower floor of the Centre 2000 building recently constructed by the City of Grande Prairie and the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce. Grande Prairie Museum and Spirit of the Peace Museums Network will create and direct exhibit production.