Banff Park Museum: Part 1

Established in 1895, the Banff Park Museum in Banff, Alberta was created to house a collection of taxidermied animals, birds, and various specimens found throughout the Rocky Mountains. The museum building itself was constructed in 1903 in a rustic style, and it is currently the oldest building maintained by Parks Canada. 

Interestingly, between 1905 to 1937 there was a small zoo and aviary located behind the museum. When it closed many of the animals were donated to the Calgary Zoo. The collection is quite impressive, and I found the woodwork and architecture equally stunning. It's no wonder why that in 1985 the Banff Park Museum was declared a National Historic Site of Canada.