Western Development Museum (WDM) - Saskatoon — Attraction in Saskatoon

Amazing museum for the history buff and transportation lover, which alone made me feel like the trip from Toronto was worth it! I didn’t know much going in and was expecting it to be your normal history museum with artefacts and explanations, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Upon entering, you would see a meticulously re-created Western boomtown with two rows of shops/stores, each of a different type, almost all of which you could enter and explore. I was in awe at the intricacy of the design and layout of each store – they are brimming with period goods and yet so well organized. There is even a building where you could walk up to the second floor and explore its interior! (And the balcony has a great view of the boomtown exhibit.) There are also two rows of vehicles to add to the period feeling. I really felt like I was in a period movie, transported back in time.

If that isn’t enough to immerse yourself in, there is another amazingly designed and incredibly interactive exhibit that takes you through 19th and 20th-century Saskatchewan, an exhibit specifically on automobile development and innovations in the province, a fascination model train set (with an entire model town and surrounding landscape), an exhibition hall of farm machinery, and a locomotive where you could sit in the operator’s room…All in all, it was just an amazing visit. I spent 2.5 hours there and it felt rushed. I could have easily spent double that amount of time to take everything in.

I was also amazed at how sparse the museum was in terms of visitors, despite my visit being (coincidentally) on a free admission day. Truly, the city should conduct more promotions for this museum, and more people, locals and visitors alike, should...

If you're looking for a fun and educational day out in the western region of Canada, you won't want to miss the Western Development Museum! This museum is a fantastic place to learn about the history of settlement in the area, and there are a few features in particular that make it a standout destination.

One of the most impressive exhibits at the museum is the train you can walk into. This is a full-size locomotive that visitors can climb aboard and explore. It's a great opportunity to get up close and personal with the machinery that helped build the west, and you can really get a feel for what it was like to ride the rails in years gone by.

Another must-see feature of the Western Development Museum is the boomtown. This is a recreated western settlement, complete with a general store, a schoolhouse, a blacksmith's shop, and more. Walking through the boomtown is like stepping back in time, and it's a great way to get a sense of what life was like for early settlers in the region.

Finally, the "walk through the ages" exhibit is a real highlight. This exhibit takes visitors on a journey through the history of settlement in the west, from the fur trade all the way up to the present day. It's a fascinating way to see how the region has changed over time, and it's sure to leave visitors with a deeper appreciation for the rich history and culture of the west.

Overall, the Western Development Museum is a top-notch attraction that's well worth a visit. Whether you're a history buff or just looking for a fun day out with the family, you're sure to enjoy exploring the train, boomtown, and walk through the ages exhibits. So don't hesitate – make plans to visit the Western Development...

We enjoyed our time there but a few things.

Staff should have sensitivity training when talking to visitors. We had one individual who was working there that said that we are slaves today and when corrected she went on about America. She also talked about politics, homelessness etc and talked down on these things. She was wearing an anxious pin, which I assume is why she spoke the way she did but this needs to be addressed and she needs to be trained to not say such things despite her beliefs, it ruined most of our time there. I am someone of colour and she turned to me and said that I’m obviously not from here, despite myself correcting her telling her that in fact, I am she kept saying no until my partner stepped in and had to correct her.

Yes, people of colour can be born in Canada, including generations before them.

When we went, there was no diversity within the staff and that felt strange. I understand we are highlighting the “good” parts of Saskatchewan and the indigenous areas is quite small but it would be nice to see discredit working there.

Honestly, just felt unwelcomed as someone of colour. I know Saskatoon is known for such things but if I am paying a lot of money to visit somewhere, I’d expect a decent experience without having my skin colour being judged.

So please train your staff better and try to hire more diversity to avoid...