Visit the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, founded in the early 1950s, for insiders’ perspectives of how the First Nations people lived and adapted to their surroundings and the arrival of European settlers. Through carefully curated exhibits designed to inspire curiosity, get a better understanding of what life used to be here in the heart of the Canadian Rockies when buffalo roamed the area.
Rich cultural displays illuminate the diversity, continuity and resilience of the native peoples of this region. See ornamented regalia, intricate quillwork, opulently decorated tepees and historic hunting equipment. Follow up-to-date accounts of the return of buffalo to Banff National Park. See the signings of the Buffalo Treaty and learn about the significance of the mighty bison to the indigenous peoples. Join in regular shows demonstrating authentic traditions and storytelling through pictures, song and dance. Study life-size displays of daily life and special ceremonies. Spend at least an hour or two becoming educated on the domestic routines and hunting techniques of the early people before and after their contact with European culture.
For more museum exploration, head north across the river to the Banff Park Museum to view numerous wildlife models representative of regional species. Within this national historic site, look for cougars, grizzlies, brown bears, beavers and mountain goats, all set in recreated displays of their natural habitats.
If your museum appetite is not yet satiated, check out the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, with seasonal art exhibits, original artwork, photographs and other archives dedicated to the history and culture of the Rocky Mountains. Learn more about the legendary Luxton family, founders of the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum, at the 1905 Luxton Home. Gain insights into the lives of this pioneer family over nine decades via its First Nations artifacts, original paintings and an arts-and-craft-style garden dating back to the early 1900s.
Find the Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum in the scenic town of Banff, Alberta, along the Bow River, across from Banff’s Central Park. The museum opens daily and charges admission. Check the website for info on upcoming events including lectures, films and workshops.
