From the Collection: Canadian Film and Photo Unit Patch
If it were not The Canadian Film and Photo Unit, Canada would not have any first hand footage of the battles of World War II.
From the Collection: Cat Locket
In this locket from the Lake of the Woods Museum collection, you can find the photo of someones cherished cat.
From the Collection: Albatross Muff
In the late 1800s, the Willis family encountered an albatross on a sailing trip. This albatross muff is part of the LOTW Museum collection.
From the Collection: Hair Memorial Jewellery
In Victorian times, it was all the rage. It’s hair jewellery. Not jewellery to put in your hair, but jewellery with hair in it.
From the Collection: Poppy from France (1917)
The first World War had already been raging for three years when this poppy was picked in 1917 by Harold Machin in a field in France.
From the Collection: Walter J. Phillips, “Self Portrait” (1922)
It was on this day in 1884 that Walter Joseph Phillips was born in Barton-on-Humber, Lincolnshire, England.
Final Days to See… Bakaan nake’ii ngii-izhi-gakinoo’amaagoomin / We Were Taught Differently: The Indian Residential School Experience
Bakaan nake’ii ngii-izhi-gakinoo’amaagoomin / We Were Taught Differently: The Indian Residential School Experience is closing tomorrow, October 20th.
From the Collection: Bird Hat
In the early twentieth century, women’s hats were over the top. They were usually decorated with frills, flowers, feathers, and even birds!
From the Collection: Walter J. Phillips, “Smoke Haze, Lake of the Woods” (1935)
With the forest fires burning in the area, the skyline seems to resemble “Smoke Haze, Lake of the Woods” (1935) by Walter J. Phillips.
Museum from Home: Happy International Tea Day!
Today (May 21st) is International Tea Day! Here is a case from the Lake of the Woods Museum collection full of Rat Portage souvenir china.
From the Collection: Allenbury’s Feeder
In Swedish tradition, thin bread has been a simple and tasty recipe for families to enjoy for centuries.
Cherish An Antique Day: The Museum Boardroom Table
April 9th is Cherish an Antique Day. Here’s the story of one of our most prominent antiques: the Lake of the Woods Museum boardroom table!
Archives Awareness Week 2021: Plan of Rat Portage Water Works System (1899)
It’s Archives Awareness Week! This is the plan of the original Rat Portage Water Works prepared by the design engineer John Chalmers in 1899.
Archives Awareness Week 2021: Plan of Rat Portage, Ontario (1880-81)
April 5th to 9th is Archives Awareness Week! This map is one of the oldest in our collection and shows downtown Kenora in 1880-81.
From the Collection: Swedish Thin Bread Rolling Pin
In Swedish tradition, thin bread has been a simple and tasty recipe for families to enjoy for centuries.
From the Collection: Saltpetre
Saltpetre (also spelled saltpeter) or potassium nitrate has had many different uses over the course of many years including curing meats.
From the Collection: Egg Carton Press
Before the invention of the egg carton, eggs were carried in baskets. Joseph Coyle of British Columbia invented the first egg carton.
From the Collection: Buttoned Boots
Starting in the 1880s, one of the most popular items for any women to have was a pair of buttoned boots.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day from The Muse! Check out this valentine from the Lake of the Woods Museum collection from around the 1930s.
From the Collection: Fels-Naptha Soap
Fels-Naptha soap has been used for over a century to treat stains in clothing,and as a home remedy for poison ivy and poison oak.
From the Collection: Keen’s Oxford Blue
Keen’s Oxford Blue was once a popular brand of laundry detergent, known for its bright blue colour that kept whites bright in the wash.
From the Collection: Bearpaw Snowshoes
These snowshoes, commonly referred to as bearpaw snowshoes, are much wider, bigger, and more circular than normal snowshoes.
The First Trans-Canada Flight (1920)
On this day (October 10th) 100 years ago Kenora officially welcomed the first plane to make a trans Canada flight.
Disastrous Fire at Rat Portage (1902)
The Hilliard House Hotel was considered one of the biggest and best hotels in western Canada. In January 1902, a disastrous fire took place.