The staff at the museum is always busy updating the collection. Recently a new exhibit was put up displaying equipment used by a local prospector, Stephen Yanik. Beyond the limits of the museum wall is a collection of historic equipment that was used in and around Fort Smith.

The Northern Life Museum holds over 10,000 artifacts, many of which were collected by the Oblate Fathers and Grey Nuns. Fort Smith's first collection of artifacts was displayed in 1964 in the basement of Grandin College. In 1972, the Northern Anthropological and Cultural Society was formed in Fort Smith with the purpose of promoting, building and maintaining the present museum.

Please visit our virtual tour of the exhibits on display. You can also view our floor layout map to get a better idea of how the museum looks. Finally, please be sure to sign our online guest book. We hope you enjoy your visit!

Construction on the present building began in 1973.	The Opening of The Northern Life Museum on June 8, 1974 attracted a large crowd.	The Yanik family at their farm near Fort Fitzgerald sometime during the 1930's.	This 75 horsepower tractor was brought north in 1918 to work the portage route between Fort Fitzgerald and Fort Smith. It is now on display in the museum yard.	The Radium King was manufactured in Quebec and assembled in 1937 in Fort Smith. It was originally designed to haul ore on Great Bear Lake. Later, it was remodeled to push barges across Great Slave Lake. After thirty years of service, it was retired in 1967. Currently the boat is being restored.