The Carstairs Heritage Centre is owned and operated by the Carstairs and District Historical Society and works in all things to support our Mandate and Mission:
To collect, preserve, record, and interpret objects and materials relevant to Carstairs and District from the time of the first settlement to the present day; to preserve cultural traditions and maintain the local knowledge of the community.
The Carstairs and District Historical Society was formed in 1986 with the aim of turning the newly deconsecrated Knox Presbyterian Church into a community museum. Since that time, the Church and attached buildings have been transformed into our permanent galleries that house exhibits on local history, the Ing Gallery which functions as a temporary exhibition space and multipurpose space, and the Pointen Art Gallery our dedicated art space. In more recent years with the support of the Town of Carstairs and our community, the museum has expanded onto our grounds with an administration and archives building that also houses our Travel Alberta accredited Visitor Information Centre, three carriage houses with history displays, as well as the longtime favourite McCaig homesteader house and its historic gardens.
Our Supporters
The Carstairs and District Historical Society is generously supported by our membership, the Town of Carstairs, Mountain View County, and the Alberta Museums Association. Additional support is provided through various grants, generous donations, and our annual fundraiser.
In 2024 the Carstairs Heritage Centre was awarded $7,266.00 to develop an exhibit highlighting the history of public utilities in Carstairs and district. We thank them for their support.
Awards and Recognition
The Carstairs Heritage Centre proudly meets or exceeds the standards and best practices for museums set forth by the Alberta Museum Association’s Recognized Museum Program. We are pleased to be have been re-accredited as a Recognized Museum for the 2020-2025 cycle.