History
While Gimli long had a small community museum, the New Iceland Heritage Museum (NIHM) initiated a plan to create a new museum facility which today stands on the main floor of Gimli’s Waterfront Centre.
One of the recommendations made in the Planning and Feasibility study completed in 1994 by Lord Cultural Resources Planning and Management Inc. was that a new museum be a major departure from the traditional concept of a small community museum. That it be developed as a national or even international museum dedicated to telling the story of New Iceland and the Icelandic experience in North America. This would attract a larger and more diverse audience while educating visitors about a very unique chapter in Canada's history. This development option was the one chosen by the Board of Directors
In 1995 a group of concerned citizens incorporate the Icelandic International Heritage Corporation in order to ensure the continuation of a museum presence in Gimli.
Many artifacts, books, clothing, and photos can be found in the Heritage Museum at Gimli.
The peysufot was the traditional everyday costume. Women wore a long black skirt with a black vest. This example has black velvet trim. Also worn were sheepskin slippers. Also pictured here are a number of the original trunks used to bring belongings over from Iceland. The oldest trunks date back to the very first group of settlers who came to the Gimli area.