Permanent Exhibits

Beneath It All:
​Red Lake's Mining Story

Since 1926, the Red Lake mining industry has dominated both the industrial and physical landscape of the Red Lake region. Red Lake boasts one of Canada’s top gold mines and has been home to 29 producing mines. Beneath It All explores the rich history of mining in Red Lake and the people and stories that make it what it is. Enter the mine and find out what’s beneath it all.
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The Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre would like to thank all the volunteers, interviewees and sponsors who made this exhibit possible.

Anishinaabe:
​The people of the land

A mix of museum design and indigenous imagination, this exhibit explores Red Lake’s past and present through the eyes of its first people. The circular design is reminiscent of a Wigwam, the traditional accommodations of Anishinaapek. This exhibit is full of meaning. Outside, the exhibit showcases local material culture using a traditional model. It is compelling and informative, with a cool, organized feeling. The exhibit text is available in three languages: Ojibwa (Syllabics), English and French.
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On the inside of the exhibit is the heart. It tells the story of its first people, from their own perspective. Focusing less on material culture, and more on recent history, teaching and learning, these stories are presented through short to medium length videos. 

As with the Anishinaapek of our area, the exhibit is intended to change, to be added on to, and to feature more content as the years go by. It is an experience that will keep changing year after year. We welcome you to explore it with us, as the Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre makes its journey through the twists and turns of reconciliation.

Airborn:
​Red lake's Aviation History

Red Lake’s history has been greatly influenced by aviation. From its importance in the last great gold rush of North America, to its part to play in modern day tourism, aviation has had a part to play in nearly every social, commercial, and cultural change within the region.
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The Red Lake Regional Heritage Centre welcomes you to explore the history of aviation, so put your ear protection on and listen to our video. Then, once you’ve got an idea of how aviation shaped the region, why not try your hand at flying one of Red Lake’s bush planes! Fly the skies over Red Lake, or travel to Hudson to see just how far prospectors had to come.

Clifford Harvey: Meet a Legendary Prospector

Discover Red Lake’s gold mining history through the eyes of Cliff Harvey, a lifelong and legendary Red Lake prospector. Cliff will tell you hair-raising stories of hardship and survival, infected with the passionate drive that has kept him, and many others, looking for gold all these years.

Hell's Acres: The Gramma gene expereince

Follow the life of one of Red Lake's most polarizing figures as she went from wife of a poor prospector to living large on gold claim payouts. Gene Campbell was a one of a kind. A strong women who wasn't afraid to speak her mind, she flourished in the North. Explore her scrap book to find out all about her history and delve into what made this Red Lake alumni so unique. Those that knew her will tell you that Gene Campbell's history isn't so much a story, but an experience!

Animal Tracks

The exhibit is intended to offer an additional educational component in the main hallway that is both related to Northern Nature Trading and is a stand alone interactive. The exhibit will give the audience a chance to look at animal footprints, learning what to look for when they are out in the wild.

They will also get a chance to explore what kind of paw made those prints, and how it matches up with the track. Additionally they will also have a chance to discover the other thing that all animals leave behind, fecal matter. Visitors will be able to pick up replicas of animal droppings and discover what kind of animals they came from and what to look out for when in the Boral Forest.
This project is made possible by funding from FedNor and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

We are open for trading Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm and Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.

Northern Nature Trading

In partnership with Science North

Northern Nature Trading is a new, interactive visitor experience based on Science North's Nature Exchange in Sudbury. Trading is fun for the whole family or for nature enthusiasts of any age!

Anyone can become a trader by doing a quiz, or by bringing in natural objects for trade (rocks, minerals, fossils, shells, pine cones). Please do not bring in anything living, furs, feathers, nests, or endangered species. 

Trading is based on points. We award you points for:

1. What you know about your item
2. What makes it different from similar ones
3. Its quality, is it clean, and in good condition?

Educational programming based on the Northern Nature Trading experience is available for school groups.

A One Way Ticket: Red Lake’s Immigration Story 

Since the Red Lake gold rush of 1926, thousands of immigrants and displaced persons from around the world have found their way to Red Lake to work in the gold mines. Read their stories, see how they lived, and learn about their contributions to the economic and social development of the community. 

View more stories on our immigration site.

Donor Wall Project

In 2004, the Heritage Centre launched a fundraising campaign to support special projects and exhibits that promote Red Lake's rich history. Since being unveiled in July 2010, the Donor Wall has become one of our most popular exhibits. If you are interested in purchasing a tile or want more information, please visit the Donor Wall page.

Three Centuries of Fur Trading: Hudson's Bay Co. Trading Post

Explore Red Lake's fur trading history through the RLRHC Hudson's Bay Company trading post. Learn about the two most powerful fur trading companies, their battle to stay on top and the eventual crash of the fur trade.

Discover the relationship between the fur traders and the local indigenous people. Have a look at the timeline which provides an overview of the national developments that affected the fur trade in Canada and their impact on Red Lake. 
​Click to view the timeline

Red Lake's First Resident Dentist: Dr J.B. Aiken

Dr. Aiken practiced dentistry in Red Lake from 1934 to 1964.  His office was located on the Red Lake waterfront, across from the Lakeview Restaurant.

Before indoor plumbing arrived in Red Lake, Dr. Aiken had to haul water from the lake to sterilize his instruments. To maximize space in his tiny office, he stored supplies on a shelf above the chemical toilet which was concealed behind a curtain.  

He used the manual foot-pump drill along with the other primitive instruments on display in this exhibit.

“If the pain gets to be too much, grab my arm”, he’d tell his terrified patients before stepping on the foot pedal.  

M.M. Fromson stock broker

Murry M. Fromson was an adventurous man from the Winnipeg area who decided to find his fortune as many others did in the 1925/1926 gold rush. Fromson ran the stock brokerage office on Main Street from the early 1930’s until he sold his practice to Arnold Bartlett in 1949.

​Fromson got his start as an employee of Joe Kert’s General Store in Gold Pines. There he supplied prospectors with the gear they would need to go up and seek their fortune. Eventually, as the gold rush began to die down, his boss Kert moved to Red Lake in order to open Red Lake Supply. This propped Fromson to relocate as well.

Fromson was the broker for stocks, insurance companies and is even credited with opening the first public library in Red Lake, devoting a portion of his office for books. The Brokerage was used as a pick up spot for his brother’s butcher company. Fromson was involved in supporting Red Lake’s golf course, kinsmen club and the construction of Highway 105.

Mel White's Barber Shop

Mel White arrived in Red Lake in 1934 at the age of 28 and ran Mel's Barber Shop for nearly 50 years. The building was located on Howey Street, next to the Lakeview Restaurant. 

On Sundays he would cut hair in surrounding communities. He pulled a sleigh loaded with his tools across the ice to reach his customers. 

At first, his wife Lil did not like living in Red Lake (she hated the mud and snow) so Mel suggested she go for a holiday. Years later, she recalled thinking, "Once I get out of this Godforsaken place I'll never go back!" Soon, she was back in Red Lake where she lived for more than 50 years.

Wildfires! A firefighting Adventure

Wildfires! is an exciting film adventure that reveals the science of fire from the first small spark to the intensity of a full-scale wildfire. Journey with a ground crew into the remote wilderness as they battle to contain the rapidly spreading fire. Ride along with the Air Attack Officer as operations are directed from a seat high above the blaze. Experience the drama from the cockpit of a CL415 Waterbomber as it flies through the smoke and flames to deliver its payload. Science North's Wildfires! captures incredible, never before seen, aerial and ground footage of one of the biggest fires to hit North America in decades, delivering a show that combines suspense, emotion, and information for a truly unforgettable experience.

Please contact us to request a viewing of Wildfires! (22:18 min) at the Heritage Centre.
Come visit us at the Heritage Centre to see many more exhibits!