History
The Icelandic community in North America long felt the desire to establish a truly ethnic museum to foster the heritage and the culture of its people and provide a repository for the many artifacts that would relay the story of the first settlements of their forefathers.
In 1971, the Canadian Forces Base at Gimli was withdrawn. This move was a devastating blow to the community and to compensate for the hardships created, the two senior governments granted the sum of $1.6 million to the area to create work and establish a program of rural and urban development.
The Icelandic Cultural Corporation was incorporated in March 1972 as a non-profit organization whose first priority was to deal with the establishment of a museum.
Assorted hand-bound books with leather trim. Dated from the mid 1800s.
A small handmade wooden container
In 1973 the Gimli Development Corporation purchased the old B.C. Packers fish packing plant and by 1974 it had been renovated to form a threefold museum, containing and Icelandic Room, a Ukrainian Room, and a Fishing Room. The museum was open for 20 consecutive summer seasons proving to be an interesting attraction for visitors and residents and providing many summer jobs for local students throughout these years.
In 1994, the Icelandic Cultural Corporation turned the operation of the museum to the Town of Gimli. Prior to handing over the keys, a professional firm from Ontairo had been retained to do a feasibility study in order to assess the best options for future development of the Museum and to explore ways in which the Museum could contribute to tourism in Gimli.