Adopting a spinning wheel or sword from the museum’s collection is a unique opportunity.

While you won’t be able to take the object from our facilities (it will remain as part of the museum’s collection), as part of this program, you can create a personal connection with an artifact that resonates with you.

Simply choose from one of six Giving Levels below, starting at $100, for this symbolic adoption and you will be supporting the ongoing care and preservation of these extraordinary artifacts.

About the Program

Adoptions are available to individuals, families, society’s and corporations. This meaningful initiative also makes a great gift or memorial tribute.

With your adoption, you will receive:

  • A personalized adoption certificate (5″x7″);
  • A photograph and History Card of your adopted artifact;
  • A showcase “Adopted By…”* label on the artifact in the museum galleries.

Please see the following list for Giving Levels and an example of what is available in each category or view a wider selection by scheduling an appointment to come view the collection and archives.

Adoptions can be one time or recur annually.

*Prefer to remain anonymous? We can do that too.

Adopt an Artifact – Giving Levels

For an annual contribution of $100, you can support the conservation work on our Photographic Records in the Archives and symbolically adopt one of the major collections in our holdings.

Collection includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • Ben Cameron Collection
  • Lacombe Globe Collection
  • Glass Negatives
  • 35mm Negatives
  • Dark Room Equipment

Following the Canadian Conservation Institute Guidelines, photographic materials must be kept in specific conditions based on their chemical makeup. Conservation work required includes purchasing and installing relative humidity monitoring systems and creating proper individual storage systems in the Lacombe Archives for the various photographic materials in the collections.

For an annual contribution of $200, you can symbolically adopts one of our many the Right Honourtable Daniel Roland Michener items that are currently on display throughout the museum galleries and in storage in the Archives.

Collection includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • Mary Edith Michener’s wedding dress from 1897 to husband I. Edward Michener.
  • Rt Honourable Roland Michener’s Speaker of the House Tricorn black hat.
  • Illa Edward Michener’s copy of the New Testiment.
  • Replica of crusaders fighting sword presented to Rt Honourable Roland Michener in 1970.
  • Bedroom set from Mary Edith and Illa Edward Michener, in which Roland Michener was born.

Following the Canadian Conservation Institute Guidelines, structurally sound textile items may be hanged on acid-free buffered hangers, inside individual buffered cotton garment bags. Items that are fragile, or heavily decorated, or with weak shoulder seam are to be stored flat in acid-free boxes, unfolded and wrapped in acid-free, buffered tissue paper.

For an annual contribution of $500, you can support the conservation work in our Lacombe Blacksmith Shop Museum and symbolically adopt one of the major collections in our holdings.

Collection includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • 1902 coal burning Forge
  • 25lb Trip Hammer
  • 50lb Trip Hammer
  • 1980 Original blacksmith design sketches
  • Gold Panning Equipment

Following the Canadian Conservation Institute Guidelines, exercising extreme care for wooden objects is important as actions and procedures to clean and maintain may physically affect the stability of the objects.

Conservation work required includes purchasing and creating proper display units, UV safe lighting fixtures, and caring for our mixed media items (metals, wood, leathers, etc)

For an annual contribution of $500, you can symbolically adopt our Spinning & Wool Working Collection that are currently on display throughout the museum galleries and in the archives.

Collection includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • 1906 Spinning Wheel
  • Wooden Framed Wool Drum Carder owned by the Perkins Family.
  • Wooden Niddy Noddy’s
  • Early twentieth century Clay Whorls
  • Early twentieth century Wooden Handspindles
  • Hand Carder and stand

Following the Canadian Conservation Institute Guidelines, exercising extreme care for wooden objects is important as actions and procedures to clean and maintain may physically affect the stability of the objects.

Conservation work required includes purchasing and creating proper display units, UV safe lighting fixtures, and caring for our mixed media items (organic materials, metals, wood, leathers, etc) .

For an annual contribution of $1,500, you can symbolically adopt our Quilt Collection in the Archives and support our ongoing conservation work to one of the major collections in our holdings.

Collection includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • 1880 Log Cabin Quilt by Francis Wiggins
  • 1920 Signature Quilt by the Spruceville Jr. UFWA, No. 46.
  • 1960 Lonestar Quilt by Sharon Dillworth
  • 1950 Log Cabin Quilt by Violet Duckworth
  • 1915 Signature Quilt by the Mountain Grove Friendship Club
  • 1915 Signature Quilt by the Iowalta Needlecraft Club
  • 1930-1940 Thor’s Hammer Quilt by Pearl Ramsay
  • 1975 Signature Quilt by the Lacombe Nursing Home
  • 1905-1980 Alberta 75th Commemorative Quilt by Marjorie Dubuc

Following the Canadian Conservation Institute Guidelines, it is best to avoid stacking and folding quilts as it may damage and/or encourage insect infestation or mould. Quilts are to be stored in acid-free tubing. Conservation work required includes purchasing and creating proper storage system in the Lacombe Archives for the quilts on acid free rollers.

For an annual contribution of $2000, you can symbolically adopt our Sports Memorabilia Collection, currently on display at the Flatiron Buidling, Gary Moe Sportsplex and in storage in the Archives and support our ongoing conservation work to one of the major collections in our holdings.

Collection includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • 1930 – 1940 Hockey Sweater worn by George Brooks – White with ‘LAC’ and jersey number ‘0’
  • 1930 – 1940 Hockey Sweater worn by George Brooks – Black with ‘L’ and jersey number ‘2’
  • 1920 Hockey Sweater worn by Frank Raymond – and jersey number ‘3’
  • JETS Baseball Sweater
  • 1950’s Mens Curling Sweater worn by James Graham Douglas – Grey
  • 1950’s Leather baseball glove which belonged to Lawrence Proudfoot
  • 2 Curling Rocks
  • Wooden ski’s
  • Numerous Trophies to Lacombe sporting teams from early 1900s to 1970’s
  • Lacombe Curling Club Commemorative Coin 70th Bonspiel, 1944-2014

Following the Canadian Conservation Institute Guidelines, structurally sound textile items may be hanged on acid-free buffered hangers, inside individual buffered cotton garment bags. Items that are fragile, or heavily decorated, or with weak shoulder seam are to be stored flat in acid-free boxes, unfolded and wrapped in acid-free, buffered tissue paper.

Conservation work required includes purchasing and installing relative humidity monitoring systems & purchasing and creating proper textile storage for jerseys and other textiles in the collection, as well as for mixed media items (metals, wood, leathers, etc) in the Lacombe Archives.

Help us to tell new stories by adopting an artifact today.

Give our past a future by adopting at one of the above levels and ensures your lasting recognition as someone who values and supports the heritage of our community.

Adopt an Artifact and your name will appear on a distinctive artifact label when the object is on exhibit as well as in the artifact’s record. You will receive a certificate with an image, artifact information, and story to display in your home or office.

With over 10,000 items in the Collections, there’s much to choose from!
Please contact us for further information

Contact us

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!

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

(403) 782-3933

[email protected]

FALL/WINTER HOURS

Flatiron Building Museum
OPEN Wed-Sat 10 am – 4 pm
Blacksmith Shop Museum
OPEN Victoria Day – Labour Day
Michener House Museum
CLOSED over 2023 for renovations

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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

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