Town of Banff

Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada

Discover Banff National Park's wildlife and natural history as seen through the eyes of an early 20th-century visitor at Banff Park Museum Photo: Amar Athwal

The Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada is not the typical modern natural history museum.

The museum's collection of natural history specimens reflects and commemorates the approach taken by naturalists of an earlier era. The collection was established in 1895, when the Geographical Survey of Canada provided more than 1300 samples of mammals, birds, wood, plants and minerals. At the time, the collection was said to represent "an almost complete representation of the birds and flowering plants found within the limits of the park."

The collection was actively maintained and expanded from 1896 until 1932. Today, the museum houses more than 5,000 specimens which are characteristic of early museum practices.

The museum building itself is Banff landmark of historic interest. The distinctive log structure was built in 1903 as a showpiece for the park. It's the largest and most elaborate example of the early phase of park design, utilizing decorative cross-log construction. You'll find it right in the heart of Banff, on the west side of Banff Avenue, backing onto Central Park just before you reach the bridge across the Bow River.

Modest admission fees apply.

Summer Hours (Mid-May to late September): 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The rest of the year: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Closed December 25th

See Parks Canada's Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada web page for more information.