The Military Museums

Crossing the threshold into this colossal museum, you will be immediately struck by the 3.6-metre high Mural of Honour. Each tile is dedicated to historical and recent conflict, incorporating the Army, Navy and Air force. There are also galleries that tell the story of specific areas of the military forces, such as the Light Infantry, the King’s Regimental army and the Royal Canadian cavalry.

Sift through the vast collections of archived material, objects, uniforms and dioramas in the Army Museum of Alberta to build an accurate picture of military might from 1885 onwards. There is also an entire section dedicated to the role of women and the contribution made by people of the First Nations. For children, there is plenty to see and do in this cathedral of education. Skinner the talking horse will amuse younger visitors, and there is whole range of interactive audios to engage their minds.

Explore the war machines of old and navigate your way around the wheelhouse of a replica World War II ship in the naval gallery. Exhibits also include special pieces such as the famous German Enigma coding machine, once thought unbreakable.

The history of the Canadian Air Force is told through a variety of models, artifacts and interactive panels, starting from the early developments in aviation to present day fighter jets. Here you will find a piece of the Red Baron’s plane and discover more about modern day operations in a theatre housed inside a Hercules aircraft.

The gift shop offers a range of souvenirs and memorabilia of your trip. Items include model aircraft, publications, souvenir medals and an excellent novel of the 1812 War.

Located near to Garrison Woods, it takes around 15 minutes to drive from downtown, The Military Museums of Calgary have free car parks on site and are open every day (except for major holidays). Public transport runs to and from the site with buses stopping nearby.