Glenbow
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Why go
- Western Canada’s largest public art collection, spanning historical and contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, prints and drawings.
- Indigenous holdings representing Plains and Northwest Coast peoples, Métis communities and Inuit communities across the Arctic.
- Western Canadian community history, including belongings from Doukhobor and Hutterite communities and objects associated with the Calgary Stampede.
Opening hours
Today10:00 – 18:00Show all
Don't miss
- Many Faces, Many Paths: Art of AsiaMore than 80 Buddhist and Hindu works dating as far back as the first century.Pre-renovation exhibition at Glenbow.
- Treasures of the Mineral WorldGlowing minerals, fool’s gold, a piece of Earth’s oldest rock and colourful crystals.Pre-renovation exhibition at Glenbow.
- Niitsitapiisinni: Our Way of LifeA permanent exhibition centred on the Niitsitapi, also known as the Blackfoot.Pre-renovation exhibition at Glenbow.
- Where Symbols MeetFive West African cultural groups from twelve countries.Pre-renovation exhibition at Glenbow.
- MavericksStories of 48 people who shaped Alberta.Pre-renovation exhibition at Glenbow.
Know before you go
- Collection visits are paused until reopening.
- The temporary gallery, Glenbow at The Edison, has also closed.
What's inside
- The pre-renovation building had eight storeys, including three exhibition floors.
- History holdings include furniture, silverware, glass, ceramics, fashion and textiles.
- The Mounted Police collection traces the North-West Mounted Police and its successor, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
With kids
- Downloadable learning activities explore six collection artworks through 11 student activities.
- An online Mavericks learning project explores nearly 40 people who helped shape Alberta. Alberta teachers developed adaptable projects and classroom ideas.
- Facilitated learning programs are paused during renovation. After reopening, school programs are planned with a new classroom, lunchroom and studio spaces.
Tips for your visit
- Check Glenbow’s website for construction updates and exhibition news before planning a visit.
- For enquiries, call +1 403-268-4100.
Interesting facts9
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350 hours
Glenbow’s archives contain more than one million photographs, 350 hours of film and 1,500 sound recordings.
Glenbow Museum - Wikipedia -
The library includes illustrated equestrian literature dating to the 15th century and schoolbooks from one-room schoolhouses.
Glenbow Museum - Wikipedia -
The Community History collection includes objects associated with search parties for Franklin’s lost expedition.
Glenbow Museum - Wikipedia -
26,000 items
The military collection contains 26,000 items, including 2,100 firearms dating from the 16th century to today.
Glenbow Museum - Wikipedia -
Glenbow’s Japanese arms and armour collection is the largest of its kind in Canada.
Glenbow Museum - Wikipedia -
48,000 ethnology
The Native North America collection holds about 48,000 ethnology items.
Glenbow Museum - Wikipedia -
5,000 artifacts
The African collection contains more than 5,000 artifacts, with a focus on West Africa.
Glenbow Museum - Wikipedia -
33,000 works
The art collection contains 33,000 works, mainly from or about northwestern North America and dating from the 19th century onward.
Glenbow Museum - Wikipedia -
The collection includes works by Paul Kane, Carl Rungius, Belmore Browne and Walter J. Phillips.
Musée Glenbow - Wikipedia
Shorts
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A Beautiful Day at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park | Lidgren BagpiperLidgren Bagpiper
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Allow us introduce our new Glenbow showhome in Aspen Spring EstatesCedarglen Homes
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Trail Profile: Glenbow Ranch Provincial ParkTrans Canada Trail
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Glenbow Ranch Provincial ParkMics
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Glenbow President & CEO receives Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee …Glenbow
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Winter echoes in Glenbow ParkSarora
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Route to Glenbow CollegeMaryam Naz
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📍Glenbow Ranch Provincial ParkMaple safar
History
Glenbow began as a private foundation before Harvie’s collection helped establish the Glenbow-Alberta Institute.
- 1955Lawyer and philanthropist Eric Lafferty Harvie founded Glenbow as a private nonprofit foundation.
- 1966The Glenbow-Alberta Institute was established after Harvie donated his historical collection.
- 1973The institute became Calgary’s official archivist.
- September 22, 1976The downtown building opened across from Calgary Tower.
- 1996The institute became an independent nonprofit organization.
Show all
- 2021The museum closed for renovation.
- TodayGlenbow’s renovated home is planned for the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture.
How to get there
- On foot130 9 Ave SE, downtown Calgary, Alberta, across from Calgary Tower.
Sources: Glenbow Museum - Wikipedia · Calgary/City Centre - Wikivoyage (see) · Glenbow · Visiting Glenbow | Glenbow · Collections at Glenbow | Glenbow · Glenbow Museum - Wikipedia · Musée Glenbow - Wikipedia · School Programs | Glenbow · checked 1 Oct 2026
- Website
- glenbow.org/
- Phone
- +1 403-268-4100
Questions and answers
What does Glenbow’s archive cover?
Western Canadian social, political and economic history, especially Calgary and southern Alberta, from the 1870s to the 1990s.
Which artists are represented at Glenbow?
Works include those by Sybil Andrews and Walter J. Phillips.
What happened at Glenbow at The Edison?
The temporary gallery welcomed more than 67,500 visitors across ten exhibitions before closing.
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