In 1903, John West built a two story brick building west of the site of his old store, The Pioneer Store. The Star Trading Co. General Store opened in November, operated by E.D. McLaughlin, W.W. Sharpe, & R.B. Price. It became better known as the Star Store, as it had a giant white star painted on its side to attract customers. The Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum has a replica star repainted on the side of its building, commemorating the star first used on the Star Trading Co.
Over the years, the building’s purpose did not change. It continued to serve the community as a department store called Montgomery’s for the better part of the 20th century.
In 2004, the Wetaskiwin and District Museum Society, which was officially incorporated as a non-profit society on the 20th of May 1986, purchased the three-floor, one-hundred-year-old building with help from the Montgomery’s and community members and moved their collection of over 20,000 artifacts and exhibits into the century-old building.
The Wetaskiwin & District Heritage Museum in the old Montgomery building officially re-opened the doors to the public on May 7th, 2005. To this day museum visitors come in and reminisce about the many purchases and memories they made in this historic building. We at the Heritage Museum are proud to continue to serve the community, as this building has always done
Mission: The Wetaskiwin and District Heritage Museum provides for the exhibition and preservation of artifacts in order to unite with the local community through history, culture, events, and education.
Mandate: Objects / artifacts muse be relevant to the history of Wetaskiwin and/or District for the purpose of preserving and interpreting material evidence of human cultures and natural enviroments.
Vision: The Heritage Museum is a friendly gathering place for the local community to engage in the history and culture of Wetaskiwin City, County, and the Maskwacis Cree Four Nations. The museum will endeavour to grow with and for the community, exchanging knowledge with present and future generations.
