12 Museums and Historic Sites You Can't Miss in Alberta

If you like learning about fearsome dinosaurs, stories of the old west, Indigenous cultures or big-name musicians, then Alberta's museums and historic sites will keep you entertained.

Here are 12 must-visit museums and historic sites throughout the province, each with its own captivating stories to share.

Southern Alberta

Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology (Drumheller)

This is perhaps one of Alberta's most famous museums. The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology is open year-round and houses one of the world’s largest collections of dinosaur fossils. There are even five specimens on display that are Guinness World Record holders. The exhibits cover more than 60 million years of fascinating prehistoric history, and there are lots of interactive exhibits at the museum. Don’t miss the Learning Lounge, where you’ll learn all about Albertosaurus, the province's namesake dinosaur.

When you've wrapped up your prehistoric tour in the museum, check out the surrounding walking trails that wind through the Canadian Badlands. The scenery is unlike anything you'll see anywhere else in the province. Keep an eye out for fossils. You never know where you may spot one.

Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site (East Coulee)

While you're in the Drumheller area, why not take a trip to the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site? It's located 21 km (13 mi) southeast of Drumheller and is considered Canada's most complete historic coal mine. Get acquainted with its history and the captivating stories of miners from around the world who came to the Drumheller Valley in the Canadian Badlands seeking fortunes. There are several experiences to choose from, including the ever-popular underground tour. Remember to wear layers if you opt for this tour, as it's chilly down below.

Studio Bell: Home of the National Music Centre (Calgary)

If you love music, this one's for you. Studio Bell: Home of the National Music Centre is where you'll find more than 2,000 pieces that span more than 400 years of music history. Some of the must-see pieces in the collection include the Rolling Stones' Mobile Studio, one of Elton John's pianos and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.

Heritage Park Historical Village (Calgary)

Welcome to one of Canada's largest living history museums. Heritage Park Historical Village stretches over 127 acres of land with more than 180 exhibits to explore that capture the history of the Canadian west from the 1860s through the 1930s. Costumed interpreters populate the park to share stories of the eras and immerse visitors in unforgettable experiences, like riding around the park on a vintage steam train, a tour on Calgary's only paddlewheel ship or visiting the First Nations Encampment to learn about Indigenous histories.

The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland (Calgary)

This historic site between the East Village and Inglewood neighbourhoods sits at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers. It's where the North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) built Fort Calgary in 1875. But the site also holds significance for Indigenous peoples and continues to do so today. The Confluence has a complex history that is now shared through exhibits, events and even podcasts. A self-guided audio tour of the land also shares the significance of this area, particularly to the Blackfoot, Tsuut'ina and Métis Nations. And, if you can't visit in-person, The Confluence offers a variety of virtual exhibits to explore.

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (Fort MacLeod)

This is an important archeological site in southwest Alberta and one of the world's best-preserved buffalo jumps, which were used by Indigenous hunters for nearly 6,000 years. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is also a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site – one of six in Alberta. Visit the interpretive centre and learn all about the past and present significance of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump alongside an Indigenous guide.

Writing-On-Stone / Áísínai’pi (Milk River)

Alberta has six UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi joined the list in 2019. The provincial park is a sacred place for Blackfoot people, and Áísínai’pi means “it is pictured / written,” which is fitting when you discover the site has the largest collection of First Nation petroglyphs and pictographs on the great plains of North America. The jaw-dropping landscape, which is comprised of hoodoo formations, is best explored with an Indigenous guide.

Canadian Rockies

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies (Banff)

Banff is the birthplace of Canada's national parks system, and there's interesting history to uncover alongside the beautiful mountain scenery. The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies serves as a gathering place to learn about the evolving history of the region through art, culture and stories. The museum also shares a special relationship with the Indigenous peoples who have called the Bow Valley home for thousands of years.

Cave and Basin National Historic Site (Banff)

The Cave and Basin National Historic Site in Banff has long held special significance for Indigenous peoples. When it was discovered by three railway workers in 1883, this eventually led to the start of Canada's first national park. Today, visitors can get acquainted with the history and significance of the site through interactive exhibits and seasonal activities. There are some fantastic hiking trails nearby as well, like Sundance Canyon.

Northern Alberta

Fort Edmonton Park (Edmonton)

Step back in time and experience four distinct periods in western history at the 1846 Fort, 1885 Street, 1905 Street and 1920 Street. Fort Edmonton Park makes history come alive with immersive exhibits and experiences, complete with costumed interpreters. Ride the vintage steam train around the park, play at the newly expanded midway and discover the Indigenous Peoples Experience. Half the fun at Fort Edmonton Park is creating your own adventure as you travel through the years.

Royal Alberta Museum (Edmonton)

This is the largest museum in Western Canada and one of the top museums in the entire country. The Royal Alberta Museum – or RAM as it's also known – is in Edmonton's bustling downtown Arts District. The RAM houses a vast lineup of permanent collections that highlight the people of Alberta and the natural environment, whether you want to learn about western Canadian history, Indigenous studies, political history, archeology, geology and everything in between. Watch for fascinating travelling exhibits, and don't forget to stop by the gift shop.

Alberta Aviation Museum (Edmonton)

Edmonton was once known as Canada's Gateway to the North, and you can learn all about high-flying history of Blatchford Field at the Alberta Aviation Museum in the capital city. Get up close to vintage bush planes, bombers and jets, and book a museum tour with a knowledgeable guide who knows the ins and outs of aviation history and the planes on display.

Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum (Wembley)

Prehistoric history is present all throughout Alberta. And while the Canadian Badlands are often seen as the epicentre for fossils in the province, the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum is the place to discover 360 million years of history. Browse the exhibits or opt for a more hands-on experience, like volunteering in the fossil-prep lab or tagging along with a paleontologist in the Pipestone Creek Bonebed, where you'll search for fossils – particularly from the Pachyrhinosaurus, a plant-eating horned dinosaur that populated the area 73 million years ago.