The Lacombe & District Historical Society is a registered Alberta Society’s Act Non-profit Organization & CRA Recognized Charity which works to preserve and promote the history of the Lacombe region through the many services and programs it offers under the name “Lacombe Museum” and as an integrated community asset.

Mission Statement

The Lacombe & District Historical Society’s (L&DHS) mission is to collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit the history and heritage of the residents of the geographical region in Central Alberta known as Lacombe for the benefit of the local communities by adhering to the standards and best practices for preserving history.

Vision Statement

is to be a relevant & integrated community asset that provides value & inspiration, while sparking curiosity in the individuals, organizations & businesses of the Lacombe region, situated in Treaty 6 and Métis Region 3 of Central Alberta.

This is accomplished by providing programs & services directly to the public through the operation of three museums and community archives, collectively known as the Lacombe Museum. The Lacombe Museum strives to be a resource for scholars, historians, and educators as well as history buffs by preserving, cataloging, and interpreting important objects and documents and will use those items to provide educational and cultural programs for the public.

View our Strategic Plan

strategic plan

Our Story

The Lacombe & District Historical Society (#6288), formerly known as Maski-pitoon Historical Society, was incorporated May 5, 1971. Before officially becoming a Society, the organization met to discuss the purchase of the Grace Methodist parsonage, the birthplace of Governor General Daniel Roland Michener. The purchase of the site occurred in 1972 and the restoration work took 13 years, with the museum officially being opened by Roland Michener himself in May 1984. This heritage site has expanded over the years to include the Learning Garden on the property that explores over 4,000 years of history of the Central Alberta landscape & agricultural development in the region.

In 1991, the Society purchased and restored the Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum – the oldest operational blacksmith shop in Alberta. Both heritage sites are recognized provincially and municipally and are open to the public with live-heritage demonstrations, special events and guided tours from the Victoria Day weekend through to the September long weekend.

Since 2008, the Society has been recognized by the Alberta Museums Association as a Recognized Museum and has maintained year-round permanent staff and volunteers. This has allowed the Lacombe Museums to act as a source of school tours & programming, hosting special events for the community, and having our collection of over 40,000+ items in our archives accessible for researchers.

Most recently, the Society is pleased to announce the addition of the Flatiron Building as a new museum and gallery space to our family, which is to be open year-round starting in 2022, showcasing rotating heritage exhibits from across the globe.

Please join us in celebrating this new endeavour.

The Lacombe & District Historical Society acknowledges that we are volunteering, working, and living on Treaty 6 Territory and the Métis homeland, a traditional gathering place for diverse Indigenous Peoples including the Maskwacis Nēhiyaw (Bear Hills Cree), Niitsítapi (Blackfoot), Nakoda (Stony), Dene (Athabascan), Métis and many other distinct Indigenous Peoples whose footsteps have walked these lands for time immemorial, and whose history, culture, and language continues to influence our vibrant community.

Our Governance

As the governance body of the Lacombe Museums, the Lacombe & District Historical Society’s (LDHS) primary purpose is to collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit the history and heritage of the City of Lacombe and Lacombe County. As a non-profit charitable organization, the society provides programs and services directly to the public through the operation of two Museums and a community archives in Lacombe, Alberta.

Our museums:

The Lacombe & District Historical Society shall be independent in pursuing these purposes but will co-operate with any and all agencies, public or private, and with interested individuals who share in the same purposes.

To this end, the Society shall, to the extent of its ability and resources:

  • Encourage the acquisition of articles of historical note and the restoration, preservation and display of such articles for the benefit of the public.
  • Seek grants and other forms of assistance from all levels of government for the acquisition, restoration, and maintenance of historical sites.
  • Encourage public participation in the preservation of our heritage through activity in the Society, donations of money, and donations of artifacts, historic documents, photographs, paintings, etc.
  • Promote public awareness of our history and the contribution of our forebears.
  • Make our community aware of the need to preserve reminders of our past and our heritage.
  • Recruit suitable and capable people to ensure the leadership and personnel necessary to attain these objectives.
  • Carry on such other activities in relation to the foregoing as may be deemed advisable.

Are you passionate about culture & heritage and Lacombe’s local history?

Learn more about how to be part of the Historical Society team, or Executive Board, discover new volunteer opportunities in your communities, or be a heritage hero and donate today!

LEARN MORE

Gratefully Supported by

CONNECT
ADMIN OFFICE

Flatiron Building Museum
Suite #200, 5005 50th Ave, Lacombe AB T4L2L1

(403) 782-3933

[email protected]

Fall Hours

Flatiron Building Museum
OPEN Wed-Sat 10 am – 4 pm
Blacksmith Shop Museum
Closed for the season
Michener House Museum
Closed for the season

LINKS
The Lacombe & District Historical Society acknowledges that we are working, volunteering, and living on Treaty 6 Territory and the Métis homeland, a traditional gathering place for diverse Indigenous Peoples including the Maskwacis Nēhiyaw (Bear Hills Cree), Niitsítapi (Blackfoot), Nakoda (Stony), Dene (Athabascan), Métis and many other distinct Indigenous Peoples whose footsteps have walked these lands for time immemorial, and whose history, culture, and language continues to influence our vibrant community.
To learn more, please visit our Treaty No. 6 resource page.
The Lacombe & District Historical Society is a registered Alberta Society’s Act Non-profit Organization & CRA Recognized Charity
Charity No: 119244416RR0001

©2023 Lacombe Museum