Effective at 4:00 PM August 6, 2007 the Naval Museum at HMCS Tecumseh on 17 th Avenue SW will officially close its doors to the public for the last time.
Opened in October 1988 by Lieutenant Governor Helen Hunley to accommodate the naval aircraft that had survived the Tecumseh fire of 1984, the Naval Museum of Alberta quickly grew into its present day stature as the largest Canadian Naval Museum in the country. Over the years it has accumulated priceless naval artefacts from around the world.
A dedicated cadre of eager volunteers have worked tirelessly over the years to restore aircraft, guns, ship models and hundreds of artefacts and mementoes that were used during training and war on the high seas dating back two hundred years or more. These same volunteers have over the years manned the front desk at the museum on a daily basis. They have provided group tours, worked at community events, attended school Remembrance Day functions and participated in any number of community activities representing the Naval Museum of Alberta. Their pride of service has been exemplary and obvious to the thousands of visitors they have entertained and enlightened over the past twenty-three years.
In 2005 the Naval Museum of Alberta commissioned an exhibit celebrating the 200 th Anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar. This exhibit was opened by the Honourable Norman Kwong Lieutenant Governor of Alberta in May of that year and the museum was later honoured by being awarded the Nelson Medal by the Nelson Historical Society of Great Britain for this unique exhibit.
In the fall of this year the Naval Museum of Alberta will move into its new home at The Military Museums of Calgary ( formerly called The Museum of the Regiments) located at 4520 Crowchild Trail SW, and will consist of army, navy, and air force components. It will also contain the University of Calgary Library and Archival collections supporting the Centre for Military and Strategic Studies at the U of C. This new museum will now become the second largest military museum in Canada second only to the National War Museum in Ottawa .
Until August 6 th you can have one last look at this splendid collection at no charge. However, we are always happy to accept donations and all such donations go to the upkeep of Calgary 's excellent naval collection and the proud history of Canada 's navy.
Meanwhile, this fall keep a watchful eye for big guns and naval aircraft being towed south along Crowchild Trail to our new home which will house Canada 's finest collection of naval artefacts.
