Western Devoplmental Museum Yorkton
Yorkton - Tuesday August 20, 2013
by:Timothy W. Shire
The four Western Development Museums combined provide the visitor with a very comprehensive story of this province. Saskatoon and Moose Jaw are each housed in huge buildings with the displays arranged around themes, while North Battleford has a village. Yorkton is somewhat downsize of the four, but has the burden of telling something about the arrival of the European settlers and in a series of scenes, you can look in on some outstanding displays.
There is one highlight in Yorkton that is truly remarkable and alone is reason enough to visit this museum. A family from Lang kept everything, as their children grew up and the artefacts are in amazing condition. It samples Saskatchewan life, growing up in the first part of the twentieth century and is displayed beautifully.
I have to say that all four of these museums share a common problem and one that puzzles me considerably. The idea is to display the artefacts and yet display after display seems so poorly lit, in some cases no lighting whatsoever. You really should not need a flashlight, or your camera’s flash in order to see exhibits.
We toured the Yorkton museum with two little girls, one seven and the other eight and they were enthralled with the experience soaking in the details and relishing in the many interactive displays.
I have selected some images to share with you but they and the poor lighting do not do justice to this part of Saskatchewan’s history.