Name: Royal Alberta Museum
Address: Canada

Overview

The Royal Alberta Museum (RAM), established in December 1967 as the Provincial Museum of Alberta and receiving royal patronage in 2005, is Western Canada’s largest museum. Reopened in its downtown Edmonton location in October 2018, it offers over 82,000 ft² of exhibition space within a sustainable, accessible building.

Collections & Galleries

The museum holds more than two million artifacts representing life sciences, earth sciences and human history. Collections span paleontology, ethnology, archaeology, geology, botany, invertebrates, mammals and ornithology. Galleries include an expansive Natural History hall with Ice Age dioramas, Ancient Alberta and Wild Alberta ecosystems; a Human History hall charting Indigenous heritage, early settlement, provincial transformation, and contemporary society; a live Bug Gallery; an interactive Children’s Gallery; and a rotating Feature Gallery for special exhibits.

Visitor Experience

RAM delivers immersive and approachable experiences for all ages. The Children’s Gallery encourages play and learning through a dig pit, makerspace, community story area and interactive exhibits. The Bug Gallery brings live invertebrates closer to visitors in educational and engaging ways. Traveling exhibits in the Feature Gallery keep the experience fresh, and programs developed by the museum support learning at home, including downloadable activities.

Architecture & Design

The building, designed by DIALOG and completed in 2018, prioritizes storytelling and object display, sustainability, and accessibility. At nearly 400,000 ft², it is LEED Gold–certified and crafted to enhance both visitor engagement and staff experience, reinforcing its role as a cultural landmark.

Community Role & Engagement

RAM serves as Alberta’s state museum, stewarding provincial heritage and fostering public understanding. It partners with research and monitoring organizations, and hosts programs that connect science to community, such as neuroscience-art exhibitions or outreach initiatives for newcomers. Membership and annual passes include express entry and discounts, encouraging repeat visitation.

Final Thoughts

With its comprehensive collections, thoughtfully designed spaces, child-friendly features, and rotating exhibits, the Royal Alberta Museum offers a layered experience that is educational, accessible, and deeply rooted in Alberta’s identity and natural and cultural diversity.