By Chris Brown

Play tourist in your own province

Alberta opening more provincial historic sites this weekend

Jun 18, 2020 | 11:15 AM

You’ll have more options for Alberta day trips this weekend as more provincial historic sites and museums in Alberta will open on June 20.

Two of the five to be open this weekend — the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre in the Crowsnest Pass and the Remington Carriage Museum in Cardston — are in southern Alberta.

The successful reopening of the Royal Alberta Museum and Royal Tyrrell Museum has paved the way towards the reopening of many more provincial sites.

“Albertans are truly eager to get back out and explore the province’s history,” Leela Sharon Aheer, minister of culture, multiculturalism and status of women. “Having more sites open across the province will give people the chance to venture out with friends and family, play tourist in their own region and help support the local economy.”

The Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray, the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin and the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village near Edmonton will also once again welcome visitors this weekend.

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Aheer urges all to follow physical distancing and hygiene protocols as they once again enjoy local food, culture and heritage and notes visitor guidelines will vary by site.

The Provincial Archives of Alberta will reopen on June 23.

Because each site is unique, patrons are encouraged to visit the facility’s website to review visitor guidelines before arrival. New procedures may include pre-booking tickets and some closures of hands-on exhibits and smaller buildings at facilities. All sites have new, reduced capacity limits and distancing measures in place, as well as more access to hand sanitizer.

General visitor guidelines

• Do not visit a historic site or museum if you are exhibiting symptoms related to COVID-19 or are feeling unwell.
• Continue to visit alberta.ca/COVID19 for the latest updates and guidelines regarding handwashing, physical distancing and good hygiene.
• Visitors are encouraged to wear non-medical masks when out in public places where keeping a distance of two metres is difficult.
• Make use of the hand sanitizer stations and handwashing facilities located throughout the facilities.
• Be mindful of high-touch displays, and avoid crowding around exhibits.
• Follow all posted directional or instructional signage.

Other sites such as the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump near Fort Macleod, Father Lacombe Chapel in St. Albert and the Turner Valley Gas Plant will remain closed. The nature of these sites pose a challenge to properly adhering to public health guidelines.

Many of Alberta’s provincial sites and museums are posting new content online and using the hashtag #MuseumFromHome.