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    Glenbow Museum

    4.1 (42 reviews)
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    Robert C.

    I'm not an art museum fan, but the Glenbow Museum is more than just an art museum. Last morning on our 9 day Canadian Rockies trip, we walk 15 minutes from our hotel to the Glenbow Museum. Easy to find, as it is right next to the Calgary Tower, Calgary's version of the Seattle Space Needle. The first Thursday evening of the month are open and free to the public. Came here the next morning, discovering that too late. Art section contains paintings of native Americans, paddling canoes, warriors, chiefs in headdresses, teepees, hunting bison, on horses ready for battle. Paintings of Western Canada including Rockies, mountain lakes, Canadian cavalry in the 1800s, French and Indian wars general dying on the battlefield, English 18th century galleon. Another section has history of the oil industry in Alberta, including neon exhibit of oil tower, and black and whites of the oil industry barons. Replica of an 1800s railroad car, with drawing of double bunk car, with immigrants crammed on the floor and in the bunks. Historical section on armor plating worn by soldiers, including Samurai, and European middle ages. Black and whites of Hussars from Crimea War. Limited selection of infantry weaponry from WW2, including Bren submachine gun, and PIAT hollow charge rocket projectile for use against tanks. Other sections cover mineral exhibit, which the wife liked, and Asian art collection of antiques, dressers and drawers, looking somewhat like my late parents' home in Berkeley. Ok that is a long stretch! Wanted to visit the Military Museums with tanks, and other large vehicles from WW2. No wheels and the wife didn't want to visit any military museum. You know who wears the pants in the house!

    View from the top floor of the museum
    Darlene R.

    I have not been here since I was in school on a school trip. Was very interesting going through the history and art work. You know your getting old when you see items in the museum that you grew up with!! The was a small exhibit of a diner table with a table jut box, also diner stools at a diner bar. When I saw this on think I should be on display here! LOL There is a lighted rocket that was part of a Drugstore on the corner of 16th avenue and centre street. This rocket is now on display right beside the pink flamingo neon light from the motor inn that was located on Macloud trail south. This was along side Stu Hart paraphernalia from Stampede wrestling. Aboriginal art and history well worth the look and read. I were there for the Christian Dior living historical clothing design display. The only disappointment was there was no price on the clothing for that era. The style was from the 1911-1950 with hand embroidery work of art. This is only at the museum from February 3- June 2,2019. There was so much history I could type for days, well forth a visit Parking is expensive would be well worth the use of the Calgary transit system. Would return for other new exhibits.

    Bob R.

    This place is amazing! We strongly recommend it. After plenty of sightseeing, we were ready to learn a thing or two about Alberta history, and the Glenbow did not disappoint. The 3rd floor is devoted entirely to various aspects of the history of Alberta, the Rockies region, and Western Canada. We spent three hours there, 2:00 till closing at 5:00, and we only saw that floor! We could've easily spent the whole day at the Glenbow. Fantastic museum!

    Bruce K.

    I wish I had more time to spend in Calgary so that I could have properly explored this museum. Two hours between the end of my customer's day and when I needed to be at the airport simply wasn't enough. Maybe Glenbow could have a late night in the week so that those of us who have to work for a living can stop by? Hmm? Great art including a massive exhibit of classics from Stampedes going back to the first one and a hallway (no photography allowed) of Charlie Russell cowboy art. Lots of Calgary and Great Plains history and exhibits too. And of course, it's an art museum so there was an exhibit of Calgary artists and Calgary art. Calgary is a massive mining and resources town, so there is a huge display of rocks and minerals from the local area and from around the world. Not just precious stones like jades but all sorts of unusual ones like Calcite and Quartz and Hemimorphite and more. Don't miss the display of phosphorescent rocks which glow in the dark (no, not radiation). I was a little bummed that there wasn't a display of Olympic stuff here, other than one bit. A great deal and well worth it. I enjoyed it and would love to have had more time!

    Christopher H.

    Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The museum is in the heart of DT Calgary and composes of four floors. First Floor - Museum kiosk, gift shop, access to downtown and some exhibitions in the hallways for the building/hotel/conference room. Second Floor - all the silly features from (assume) modern art. Features changed periodically (e.g. quarterly, monthly, etc.). Modern art is junk in my opinion but what does a guy who has a dual degree in History & Art History know about this stuff? Third Floor - Dedicated to First Nation(als) aka Native Americans/Indians. The main purpose I wanted to visit Glenbow and Royal Alberta up in Edmonton. I was curious how Canada as a federal government and general population viewed the genocide/diaspora for the First Nationals and unfortunately... It's not that different than how Americans treated them but why would it be? Fourth Floor - Random stuff and a women power exhibit. The woman exhibition was interesting with highlights focusing on a photographer who joined the dominant male explorers to venture to the Glacier and Northern Rockies in the early 20th. Her photography was sick~! The fourth floor was bleh aside from her corner. The museum had many other exhibits on various floors showcasing Canadian & Alberta fore-fathers. I may have my wires crossed w/ Glenbow & Royal Alberta so I apologize for that. I will update as I sift through my pictures to remind me what I just experienced. Access/Roads: A It's in DT. Parking: A Weekend was easy. Public parking everywhere for $10USD/$13 CDA. Distance: C DT Los Angeles is appx 1,600 miles away (~2,600 KM). Costs: A $13 USD/$18 CDA. Students, kids and seniors cost ~$9 USD/$12 CDA. This is a great starter place to learn about general Canadian stuff, Alberta History, First Nation issues and so forth. Worth scoping out as I was uber excited to visit. I spent over five hours so wear some comfy shoes, expect to walk around a lot and so forth. There is a convenient bathroom/washroom aka sh*tter on every floor. Additionally, organized spots to rest/sit for us disabled/terminal ill peoples. Safe travelings my friends and I hope your fears don't paralyze you to live. Consolidated photo gallery: https://www.facebook.com/SiRTurbo/media_set?set=a.10157283091752324&type=3 IG @cigarcpa www.cleeshyun.com

    "Kaleidoscopic Animalia an exhibit by Paul Hardy
    Daniel W.

    Great history, great art. Beautifully designed exhibits. On my visit, the exhibit, "Kaleidoscopic Animalia: An exhibition designed and curated by Paul Hardy" was truly exceptional, a fashion-designer's set of uniquely themed "rooms" based on items in the museum's collection. Brilliant--a witty and beautiful that showed disparate objects in a new light. Also, this is no minor thing, their museum store (cleverly open a half hour after museum closing), is one of the best museum gift shops I've seen anywhere, with a lot of Canadian artist-made crafts and jewelry. The only negative--overpriced parking at the convention center parkade which charges you beyond the stated limit.

    Katie C.

    I always feel like it's too bad that we only have the one museum in Calgary. It isn't that the Glenbow is an awful museum, but just that it has its relatively small amount of resources and space spread over many different permanent exhibitions. The result is that their exhibitions range from mediocre-alright, but nothing permanent is really astounding. It's pretty unfortunate because I think it has a lot of potential. The permanent exhibitions have been nearly the same for the last twenty years. Anyone born and raised in Calgary made regular school visits. I've even made some since then. The travelling exhibitions range from alright to amazing, and I always try to make it down for the excellent exhibitions. If you try to take the whole museum (including the travelling exhibition), it takes a good day. In this respect, I feel like it is more for the tourists than the locals. The Asian art exhibit is pretty cool. All of the exhibits are well laid out and multi-layered, but one visit to them is more than enough. I understand that the museum has a mandate, I just don't find it that compelling. I think it's a shame that a city with the size and wealth of Calgary doesn't have more museums, so that we can start to build some quality culture and history.

    Michael U.

    From Military and Native Canadian History to Geology and Modern Art there is not much Glenbow Museum does not have, the enormous museum a veritable bargain considering the scope of its collection, though some available/affordable nearby parking would be nice.

    The Glenbow is centrally located in an area popular with tourists.

    Although we wandered through other exhibits, we spent the most time with Geraldine & Douglas Moddie's photos, a special exhibit. The diary and letter entries that are included gave me more of a sense of place and time than the photos by themselves. The exhibit by Kent Monkman, Shame and Prejudice, was too sad for words. And so worth seeing. There's too much to take in! A day isn't enough. Your feet will thank you for going twice instead of trying to see the whole place in one day! (No cafe, which might have made it possible to stay longer!)

    Stephanie I.

    Way more to see than I thought! Really interesting and lots of videos and things to see, lots of culture! The Frida Kahlo exhibit was very informative and interesting. We spent about 3 hours here in total. Students are only $11 to get in. Highly recommend checking out. Although the pictures of the lady making out with her cat were very very strange. *see photo

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    6 years ago

    Many interesting exhibits throughout the year. I enjoyed learning about new topics and themes based on what was being displayed.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Review Highlights - Glenbow Museum

    After plenty of sightseeing, we were ready to learn a thing or two about Alberta history, and the Glenbow did not disappoint.

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    Leighton Art Centre - Main Gallery

    Leighton Art Centre

    (2 reviews)

    $$

    I took my grade two and three students on a field trip to the Leighton Art Centre and they loved…read moreit! It's quite out of town so when going you have to incorporate that into you time and make it a full day. We arrived and automatically went into the cabin where we would be doing our art. Our tour guide was Emma and she gave each of the students a notebook to keep and take home which they loved. She asked them to look around the room but they had to stay seated and draw an object or thing they could see from their seats. Then after they did it once they had to flip to the next page and find another object in the room and draw it and she gave them a time limit the first time of 5 minutes and only 3 minutes the second time to show how it gets harder. Some students were asking for erasers and she explained that they don't have erasers because they believe that artists don't make mistakes. Then they students started their clay projects making a landscape and they had lots of fun doing this. Then we had lunch in that same room after students cleaned up and then they had play time outside in the snow which the leader explained the boundaries they had to stay in and that all nature things including snow stay on the ground. Then we did a nature walk and then the students got to go through the Leighton house which they really enjoyed especially the room with the parrot and all the trees! Thank you Leighton Art Centre !

    My friend's soon to be mother-in-law organized a bridal shower here. I've never been to…read moreMillarville....not gonna lie....didn't even know it even existed. It's a short drive south of Calgary. I used google maps to get me to the Leighton Art Centre. The drive there is beautiful. Lush rolling green hills and beautiful forests. I swear I was transported to an English countryside! If you like scenery, a summer drive in this area is highly recommended. Our art lesson was held in an original little school house, now an historical landmark, built in the 1950s. After our art lesson (which I determined I do not have a talent for lol) our instructor led us on a short nature walk up to the the Leighton House Museum. A beautiful home originally designed by Alfred Crocker Leighton that features much of the home's original furniture and the Leighton's personal belongings. The home also showcases AC Leighton's original artwork as well is now home to many local artists' work where they are displayed and for sale. The house is beautifully situated over looking a breathtaking view. The Leightons were dedicated to art and the art community, and I can see why artists come there to paint, there is so much inspiration all around you. Definitely worth the drive out there for the views alone, but the museum and learning a little bit of local history is a nice bonus too.

    Glenbow Museum - artmuseums - Updated May 2026

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