A beloved lakeside town is preserving its past with a new museum dedicated to capturing the spirit of early cottage and beach life.
The Winnipeg Beach Historical Society Museum officially opened its doors on July 26 at 30 Robinson Ave., the former home of Candies and Curiosities. Operated by the Winnipeg Beach Historical Society, the museum features a range of artifacts, including a rare town diorama from the 1940s, furniture from the Empress Hotel, and a growing collection of vintage photos and oral histories.
Part of the 1940s diorama of Winnipeg Beach now on display inside the museum
“It is this beautiful 12-by-8-foot display that captures what the town looked like 80 years ago,” said Wendy Peters, president of the historical society. “The details on it are magnificent and we are proud to be able to share it with visitors.”
The museum is housed in a building owned by co-historical society leader Donna Ferguson and has already become a hub for local heritage enthusiasts.
Peters founded the historical society after purchasing a historic cottage in the community and becoming frustrated by the lack of publicly accessible information.
“This heavily concerned me at the time because there is a lot of history to be shared in Winnipeg Beach,” she said. “I was shocked that no one had ever taken the time to start something that would benefit the community by collecting the history.”
Since then, residents have contributed hundreds of historical photos and more than 40 hours of recorded stories, which Peters described as “a treasure trove of information that needed to be shared.”
A new exhibit on vintage bathing suits and beach culture is currently in the works. Peters is encouraging the public to donate items from the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s that reflect early beach and cottage life.
“We are particularly looking for vintage bathing suits, children’s beach toys, kitchenware from summer cottages, and memorabilia related to the CP Rail system––which all played a vital role in shaping the town,” Peters said. “Our main goal is to make this a place where people can come and learn about the history of Winnipeg Beach.”
Looking ahead, Peters also hopes to launch guided walking tours of the community. A 36-stop self-guided version is already available at www.winnipegbeachhistory.com.
“Winnipeg Beach has a very rich history and it is fun to go around and explore all these interesting artifacts,” she said.
The museum’s hours vary as it is currently volunteer-run. Plans are underway to hire students next year to offer more consistent access. Visitors are encouraged to email winnipegbeachhistory@gmail.com in advance to confirm weekend availability. Admission is by donation, with proceeds going toward new exhibits and restoring a 1940s caboose donated by CP Rail.
Peters hopes the refurbished caboose will serve as a welcome centre and candy store, tapping into the beach’s sweet past.
“A big nostalgia about the beach is the stores used to sell penny candy,” she said. “We are looking to bring this back to the town to give them something that reminds them of the earlier days.”
