DeBolt & District Pioneer Museum Society

Synopsis & Main Exhibits

“Pioneer” is our major theme, but our site holds many surprises, in Hubert Memorial Park, DeBolt, you can find three very unique exhibits:

– The ‘Bickell Fossil Collection’ (from local rivers, by a local son, an amateur paleontologist), this collection is beautifully presented, and well labeled – a very eye-popping special exhibit!
– ‘Indigenous Room’ with many local contributions, First Nations and Metis, from arrowhead to art, hide scrapers to sweet grass, – very worth your time to view.
– ‘Ridgevalley Co-op Cheese Factory’ one of a kind exhibit, (with textual history as well as artifacts).

DeBolt & District Pioneer Museum Society (Incorporated in 1975) is located in the East Smoky Area of the Peace Country. This rural community is home to a museum of surprising size and diversity. Eight heritage buildings and two sheds, all house a variety of stories, expertly presented.

The ‘Museum and History Book’ was the dream of Winnie Moore (nee DeBolt), and she soon had a group of interested people on a committee. Some of the earliest names were: John Nielsen, Donald Matlock, Sigfred Welander, Jean Pushor, Art Boe and Fran Moore.
The ribbon cutting at the Manse by Mrs. Edna Stevenson officially opened the museum in October 1976, the following year Hubert Memorial Park was officially opened by Marv Moore, MLA on Heritage Day, August 1977.
With humble beginnings, of one small log Manse in Hubert Memorial Park, DeBolt, the museum has expanded over the years to include: eight heritage buildings and two sheds. Each of these buildings presents a variety of displays in the pioneer themes, (homemaking, farming, trapping, ranching, forestry, and rural living).

History books published by our Society

Across the Smoky (1979), Edson to Grande Prairie Trail (1988), DeBolt Country Club & Ag. Soc. (1989), and Bridges to the Past (2001). These books, as well as the new Centennial Celebration Edson Trail (1911-2011), all are still available.

‘The Community Church and Legion Hall’ are busy all year round, but the buildings in the park are seasonal. Local volunteer boards are proud of progress, in collecting and preserving our history, and becoming a modern ‘Recognized Museum’.