The Gem of the West features over 15 unique exhibits focusing on the history and heritage of Coaldale and surrounding area.

Visit our First Nations exhibit to see a visual timeline of stone points, including a 12,000 year old Clovis point, the first found in Alberta
Discover Main Street Coaldale through exhibits which reconstruct historic grocery stores, a one-room school house, and the CPR station.
See the typewriter used by B.B. Janz, who helped over 21,000 Mennonites flee religious persecution in the Soviet Union during the 1920’s and 30’s.
Visit our Butcher Shop exhibit and see a variety of equipment used in Coaldale’s butcher shop, in business for over 95 years!
Learn about the various cultures which settled in the area and helped establish and develop our town.
Tour our on-site operational blacksmith shop and see the various historic tools which were used.
Enjoy the unique features of our building, a former Mennonite Brethren Church built in 1939, which today is a Registered Historic Resource.

New in 2018: see the wedding dress worn by Elizabeth Bruce when she married William Anderson in 1912, part of our new short term exhibit celebrating historic clothing and accessories.

New in 2019: Visit our re-designed exhibit in tribute to the New Club Cafe, featuring the original counter and benches which furnished the cafe and on which the names of cafe patrons can still be seen carved into the wood. This will be a long-term exhibit.

New in 2022: Explore our newly rejuvenating the indigenous exhibit space. Incorporating new information boards and another interactive video element. Our goal is to have this project completed by May before we open for the season (May 21st)