A museum 65 million years (plus three more) in the making is finally here! The Royal Alberta Museum’s new location in downtown Edmonton officially opened in October 2018, to an awaiting public that’s been holding its breath, twiddling its thumbs, and waiting semi-patiently since the beloved museum began its massive move three years ago.
At its first home in the Glenora neighbourhood in west Edmonton, the RAM had been well loved and popular—hosting nearly 14 million visitors since it opened in 1967. It was, in fact, even considered one of Canada’s best museums. Today, in a space double the size of its old location, the RAM is not only one of Canada’s best museums but also western Canada’s largest! Its extensive collection of more than two million objects includes everything from pictographs and prehistoric plant-eaters to mountain landscapes and unusual insects.
Celebrate the earth’s diversity in the Natural History Gallery, which includes detailed dioramas, preserved fossils, and precious gems and meteorites. Then visit the Human History Gallery to learn more about Alberta’s diverse past and present, from Indigenous culture and history to colonization and political strife to the Olympics and the Edmonton Oilers. Did you know invertebrates make up 97 percent of the animal kingdom? Learn the spine-tingling facts in the Bug Gallery, where the living displays offer fun and safe ways to observe the creepy-crawlies, creepy-flyies, and more. Speaking of fun, don’t miss the Children’s Gallery. The hands-on activities help foster the love of discovery from an early age, where infants, toddlers, kids—and the young-at-heart—can play, move, build, slide, tumble, dress up, and more.
Continue to discover and play at home with a visit to the museum’s gift shop. You’ll find artworks, books, toys, and other unique items for the perfect souvenir or gift. Plus, more than half of the products they carry are made by local and Indigenous makers from Alberta, and the store proceeds support RAM programming and services. The wait is finally over—now go feed your curiosity.
9810-103A Ave., 825-468-6000.
