The Revelstoke Museum & Archives opened its new exhibit on Revelstoke's multicultural history Wednesday, while it also began consultations on a new exhibit plan for its recently-renovated main floor.
The new exhibit, titled MOSAIC, looks at the history of Revelstoke's main pioneering cultural communities – British, Ukrainian, Italian, Scandinavian, Japanese and Chinese.
"I'd like to see this exhibit as something that can evolve over the years," said curator Cathy English. "We've represented our pioneer ethnic groups in Revelstoke but there's a lot of different groups that are living here now and there's a real wide variety of cultures that are represented in our population. I would like to see us continue to develop the exhibit and to showcase our current cultures as well as well as our historic ones."
The exhibit features a brief history of each community. It looks at the Scandinavian role in introducing skiing to Revelstoke, the Chinese who worked on the railroad, the Ukrainians who established the community at the foot of Mt. Cartier, the Italian stonemasons, the Japanese who died in the 1910 Rogers Pass avalanche, and the dominant role British immigrants played in early Revelstoke society. It also displays historic artifacts from each cultural group.
The displays were designed by summer student Claire Carsley.
"In terms of the exhibit, I hope you enjoy it and add your colours to our mosaics on the window," said English.
At the same time, English introduced Cuyler Page, an exhibit designer who will be working with the museum on a revamped exhibit plan for the museum's main floor space, which was recently renovated to make it more open and brighter.
Page had a display set up on the main floor outlining three different ideas to use the space. The first would a be traditional timeline exhibit of Revelstoke, showcasing the town's history through the years, with a changing exhibit in the middle of the room. "One would progress around the room through the decades," he said
The second idea was for exhibits grouped around certain themes like business, religion and recreation. It would look at how Revelstoke has developed over the years in those areas.
The third idea would be to use the space for ever-changing exhibits around different themes and events.
"One things the museum is very good is at creating exhibits around a theme," Page said. "This would build on that."
You can indicate which idea you like best at the museum. The new multicultural exhibit is located on the second floor.