The Museum of the Cariboo Chilcotin is a treasure-trove of regional history and the enthusiasm of Judy MacLeod, volunteer coordinator, is infectious.
"Come on in!" exclaims MacLeod, noting while there's lots of things to do outdoors in the area, the museum offers a great place to spend some inside time.
MacLeod offers tours of the museum, and she is injecting her enthusiasm into sharing some of the incredible collection the museum includes.
"Come and learn and walk through history," invites MacLeod, who is also working to make the museum more interactive.
In 2024, the museum pulled out some of the numerous saddles donated to the museum over the years, hosting a saddle cleaning in September, which saw many knowledgeable cowboys and horse enthusiasts in the area come out to lend a hand and their skills.
Now the museum's display on the main floor of the Tourism Discovery Centre is showing off their hard work and some of the collection.
People who have never sat in a saddle can even climb on one and give it a try, as a stand mounted with a saddle sits in the centre of the display. It is sturdy enough for MacLeod to climb on and she demonstrates the sturdiness of the stand her partner built to bring her vision for the display to life.
In December, the museum brought out some of the many brands the museum has had donated as well, burning them into wood to show how they work, though she said using the brands on a solid surface was a bit of a challenge. Now the brands and the burnt wood are also a part of the display currently showing in the museum.
Visitors to the museum can also participate in a number of scavenger hunt options, with five hunt options, and prizes for participants. The five different scavenger hunts mean visitors can return repeatedly and see and learn something different each visit.
MacLeod is working on multiple projects, and is full of ideas on where the museum can go in the future to continue to share local history. She hopes to grow the First Nations displays with the help of Indigenous communities, and will be hosting a Marvellous Mushrooms exhibit from the Royal BC Museum from June through September. The exhibit planned to follow, Grandmother's healing journey, is relevant to the area, as it involves some of the generational impacts of the St. Joseph's Mission Residential School.
There is also currently a contest to name the horse figure at the museum. The top ten names will be narrowed down after submissions close on January 21, then voted on by the community to choose a new name for the statue, which used to be on display at Willie's Western Wear.
The scavenger hunts, tours, and naming contest are just some of the ways the museum is aiming to become even more interactive in highlighting the region's history.
"There's so much to see."
The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday through the winter. Call ahead for larger group tours to 250-392-7404.
