Ladysmith Museum curator Bernardien Knol figures volunteers spent almost 600 hours this winter updating the museum for its 2014 re-opening.
Our community museum opened Saturday, April 19, and when the doors opened, visitors found many upgrades and changes inside the museum at 721 First Ave.
When Lee’s Goldsmith closed, they donated all their display cabinets to the Ladysmith Museum, giving them space to display a lot of new exhibits.
“We were able to add a whole bunch of extra stuff we weren’t able to have before,” said Knol. “Overall, we’ve just been adding to what was already there.”
One of the first things visitors will notice is new painted murals on the museum’s front windows.
They were done by two museum volunteers, and Knol is thrilled with them.
“I think they did a fabulous job on that,” she said.
The walls of the museum have been updated with Plexiglas covers over the nameplates and paper, and there is new lettering above the exhibits.
“It’s all updated and looks more professional, and that’s thanks to the grant from the Town,” Knol said of the Plexiglas covers. “It just looks more upscale.”
Knol feels a big draw is the new display of a miniature Victoria home, which Mary Graham built at the age of 75. The home is filled with handmade furniture and miniature people, and it’s very detailed. There are even lights that turn on.
“We already have people from Victoria who say they want to come see this house,” said Knol.
There is a new space that can be used by community groups, service clubs and businesses for temporary displays highlighting local milestones. The first display is about Morden Mine and runs until June, and Knol encourages people to get in touch with them if they have an idea for a temporary display that could go up for a month or two.
The Ladysmith Museum has also added to its list of gift items and is now selling postcards featuring old photographs and old postcards from 1958. The museum also sells books, T-shirts and the Ladysmith and District Historical Society’s cookbooks.
As well, the Ladysmith Museum is working on getting set up for geocaching.
The Ladysmith Museum is now open Tuesday to Saturday from noon to 4 p.m., and it will remain open until Light Up on Thursday, Nov. 27. For more information, call 250-245-0423 or e-mail ladysmithmuseum@shaw.ca.