Bowden Pioneer Museum

The Bowden Pioneer Museum is a remarkable preservation of Central Alberta’s past, with a focus on military transformation, community life, and the people who captured it all.

At the centre of the museum’s identity is the extraordinary work of Bob Hoare, a local photographer active in the early 1900s. Hoare documented life in and around Bowden using glass-plate negatives—over 800 of which have been carefully preserved at the Alberta Provincial Archives, but visitors to the Museum can still enjoy them digitally. His studio has been faithfully recreated within the museum, offering visitors a vivid window into prairie life as it once was.

The military display at the Bowden Pioneer Museum features authentic artifacts from World War II, reflecting the town’s connection to Canada’s wartime efforts through the former RCAF Station Bowden, which was a part of the British Commonwealth Air training Program. Though the exhibit focuses on uniforms, equipment, and memorabilia from the era, it also serves as a quiet foundation for the broader local story—how the air base later became a youth reform centre and eventually the Bowden Institution.

The museum also features heritage exhibits including a pioneer schoolhouse, creamery, general and hardware stores, a railway corner, and memorials dedicated to local contributions in both war and peace. While it houses one of Canada’s largest private Avon collections, donated by Irene M. Wood, the museum’s soul lies in its dedication to education, remembrance, and community pride.

Operated by the Bowden Historical Society since 1967 and located in a former curling rink, the museum welcomes visitors from late May through summer. Guided tours run Friday to Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with admission by donation. A thrift shop and monthly garage sales also support its programming.

The Bowden Pioneer Museum is more than a collection—it is a living chronicle of Alberta’s resilience, service, and shared identity.

4 Features of the museum:

Gerald Robin "Bob" Hoare collection and exhibit
Adjacent to a peaceful and spacious park
Entertaining and informative tour about life in the 1900's
Private tours in both on and off season

Hours and Admission

June to August
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Admission By donation - Children under 6 free

Address: 2201 19 Ave, Bowden, Alberta, Canada T0M 0K0
Phone Number: (403) 224-2122
Email: bhsalberta@gmail.com
Website: https://bowden.ca/p/bowden-pioneer-museum-

For off season tour inquiries call: Sandy Gamble at (403) 391-2337

Directions: Exit Highway 2 at Exit 357 (Highway 587) which is the interchange for Bowden, Head west on Highway 587 toward the town of Bowden. As you reach Bowden’s town limits, Highway 587 becomes 20 Avenue. Continue on 20 Avenue until you reach 19 Avenue.Turn left (south) onto 19 Avenue. The museum is located at 2201 19 Avenue, in the old curling rink – easily visible on your left.