Railway Museum to get national historic site designation

As the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel revealed the new Cranbrook History Gallery on Friday, June 17, MP David Wilks announced the soon-to-be status of the expanding museum.

"This museum is going to be dedicated as a national historic site," said Wilks. "This is great for the city of Cranbrook and great for CP rail. It recognizes the importance of rail through this area and is a long overdue designation."

There are 954 national historic sites located in Canada, and the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel which showcases an unparalleled collection of historic railway passenger cars while being located next to active Canadian Pacific Railway tracks will soon have that prestigious title.

"They're not handed out too often, and it has to be proven that they have great significance to the area with regards to its historic value," said Wilks on the subject of obtaining this recognition. "Mr. Garry Anderson has been able to provide history and yet keep it available for generations to come, and I think that is of great significance."

Garry Anderson, Officer of the Order of Canada for the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel, has been one of the driving forces behind the effort to obtain this status, all the while cultivating an appreciation for the architectural and historical uniqueness of Canada's railway heritage.

"It is a game changer for this museum and being perceived by the province, Canada, as well as North America," said Anderson about the dedication. "Museums in small, remote areas are not taken as seriously as a museum in an area such as Ottawa. This site status will change all of that."

The museum's new status will most likely bring more recognition to the city of Cranbrook, as well as produce an increase in tourism, and possibly make acquiring funding easier for the new national site.

"Getting nation historic designation allows them to move forward with other projects, that they see fit to do now," said Wilks.

Expansion was the original cause for the dedication ceremony at the Railway Museum on Friday morning- the Cranbrook History Gallery was unveiled as the latest development of the museum's quest to add more displays about the local rail history of Cranbrook.

The Gallery is proud to spotlight the history of the community through displaying the 2005 Centennial Quilt, Cranbrook Heritage Tour Map, and the completed historic photo collages on a variety of themes about the city.

All of the elements- the national recognition of the Railway Museum, a new Gallery of Cranbrook history, and the dedication landing on the kick-off of Sam Steele Days- come together to celebrate and acknowledge Cranbrook.

"This recognizes the importance of Cranbrook as the hub of the southeast corner of British Columbia," said Wilks. "How it has grown over the years, how they've been able to maintain their heritage, and then expound upon it."

The official dedication of the Canadian Museum of Rail Travel as a national historic site should be happening in the near future, but in the meantime the new Cranbrook History Gallery is open to the public and free of charge.