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  • Ukrainian Pioneers

    In the spring of 1899 over thirty families left their small Ukrainian village of Toporiwtsi, situated in the county of Chernovtsi, in the province of Bukovina. Their destination was “Kanada” and their goal was the fulfillment of a dream not clearly discerned but embracing a vague optimism of something better than they had yet known. Their courageous venture encouraged another group to follow in 1900, and a subsequent, larger group in 1902.


    Read more in Our Legacy

    Ukrainian Pioneers

  • Pioneer Oven

    One important structure on a Ukrainian settler’s homestead was an outdoor clay oven. It was built at the same time or immediately following the building of the first shelter or house. It was in this oven that the bread was baked. When large quantities of food had to be prepared for occasions such as weddings and other celebrations, the cooking was done in large pots placed in the heated oven. It was ideal for both purposes.

    Read more in Our Legacy

    Pioneer Oven

Smoky Lake Museum

The Smoky Lake and District Cultural Society volunteers welcome you to the Smoky Lake Museum. Located in the historic Victoria School building which dates back to one of the first schools in the area.

Smoky Lake MuseumA walk through the building will take you back in time to when homes were lit with cool oil lamps and bread was baked in an outdoor wood fired oven. You will also see locally crafted wood carvings as well as several taxidermy displays of regional birds and animals.

In front of the building we have the historical Pakan Ferry. In 1999 it was restored and moved to the front of the museum. The society takes pride in preserving this unique treasure.

On the back of the property there are dozens of restored historical farm machinery and equipment with pieces dating back to homesteader days.

Your trip to the Smoky Lake museum will be an adventure you will not soon forget.

In 1983, local residents shared some stories and photographs to put together a History Book called “Our Legacy” – an excellent book of stories and pictures of the settlers in and around Smoky Lake. The printed version is no longer available. However it has now been reproduced on DVD in a PDF format. Here is a link for purchase information.

This site will take you on a slideshow tour of the museum. You will also enjoy the video section taking you on a demonstration of pioneer harvest time and baking in an outdoor oven. The video section also includes a National Film Board documentary on our early Ukrainian pioneers. You’ll see how the early settlers ground their grain and turned it into flour using a stone grinding wheel.

This site also offers a few video clips with a preview of the Smoky Lake Pumpkin Fair.

Address

Address:
5622-49th Street
Smoky Lake, Alberta Canada
T0A 3C0

Contact Ron @ 780 656-0440
or Carole @ 780 656-4135

Hours

Hours:
Open July and Augest
Random days on the weekend or by appointment Open Pumpkin Fair- 1st Saturday in October

Admission: is by donation.