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The Reynolds-Alberta Museum, located 74 km (46 mi) south of Edmonton on the QEII highway, is a celebration of the history of vehicles. Its unique collection spreads across 220 acres and three different buildings. If you are a fan of cars, airplanes, tractors and other industrial equipment, you're headed to the right place.
The museum was founded in 1992, when local businessman Stan Reynolds donated more than a thousand pieces from his vast personal collection to the Government of Alberta. Its inventory has only grown in the years since.
“We have the largest collection of cars, airplanes, tractors, and industrial machines in Canada,” says Cynthia Blackmore, the museum’s head of marketing and communications.
Its collection of more than 500 vehicles, for instance, includes everything from an 1880s penny-farthing bicycle to an early prototype of a solar-powered car developed by the University of Alberta in 1999. The museum is also home to more than 5,000 pieces of agricultural and industrial equipment—steam-engine aficionados, take note! And its aircraft fleet of more than 130 items is the largest collection of its kind in the country.
The museum's offerings aren't only kept behind glass, either. The Reynolds-Alberta Museum offers guided warehouse tours, where you can get up close and personal with many of the highlights and unique pieces in its collection. Plus, during the summer months, for an additional fee you can actually take one of Henry Ford's most iconic vehicles out for a spin. Through the Reynolds-Alberta Museum's U-Drive program, participants get behind the wheel of a 1927 Model T and drive it around the museum's designated test track. They will also receive orientation from museum staff ahead of time and a commemorative photo next to the vehicle afterwards.
The Reynolds-Alberta Museum also holds rotating exhibits highlighting different areas of mechanical and vehicular history. Check out the museum's website for the latest exhibits.
The annual events held at the museum are equally sure to please the whole family. Every August, you can join hundreds of other motorcycle enthusiasts for the Ride to Reynolds, or just admire the parade of vehicles from the convenience of the parking lot.
Every Labour Day weekend, the museum hosts its annual Harvest Festival, which includes live demonstrations of swatching, combining, ploughing, a John Deer tractor display and a petting zoo. Then, in October, you can take in its annual metal art show and sale, featuring hand-crafted work from a variety of local artists.
"Every single person who comes here has a slightly different experience because of who they are," Blackmore says. "We try to make it so that every individual has a great time when they visit."
It takes two to three hours to see everything the Reynolds-Alberta Museum has to offer. So while you're in the area, why not make a day of it and take in more of Wetaskiwin and its beautiful surroundings?
First, if you still haven't gotten your fill of vehicles, head on over to the Edmonton International Raceway, located just a few minutes northwest of Wetaskiwin. This was the first raceway in the province to be officially sanctioned by NASCAR, and which hosts oval-track races every Saturday evening.
For a taste of the great outdoors, visit Pigeon Lake, about 43 km (26.7 mi) west of the city, and Ma-Me-O Beach for picturesque swimming and fishing.
While you're in the area, grab a bite to eat at The Glens Grill, with its beautiful outdoor patio overlooking the ninth hole of Wetaskiwin's Montgomery Glen Golf & Country Club.
Finally, if you run out of daylight, Wetaskiwin has plenty of options for those looking to spend the night. An easy choice for families is the Siding 16 Lodge, with its kid-friendly pool and waterslide. But even if you decide to camp out at the Westview RV Park, you'll be rewarded with comfort—this time in the form of facilities that were named Canada's Best Restroom in 2020.
