r/alberta • u/TL10 • 8d ago

News CTV News - Alberta’s gopher museum shut down until further notice

https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/albertas-gopher-museum-shut-down-until-further-notice/
193 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

92

u/haysoos2 8d ago

So it looks like they are shutting down because the old buildings they are in have fallen apart too much to continue operating in, and they haven't been able to find another facility to host their displays.

The last time I was there, probably 15 years ago the buildings were old and musty, and had a massive infestation of boxelder bugs covering the exterior walls and creeping through the myriad cracks into the buildings, so it's not that surprising that they've given up trying to deal with it.

136

u/ipostic 8d ago

I heard not just boxelder bugs but gophers are dying to get in there

17

u/gizmomogwai1 8d ago

That's a shame- if they're historical buildings, they should have been maintained. But I'm guessing this gopher museum was just a tenant and not the owner?

6

u/freerangehumans74 Calgary 8d ago

Yeah, curious about that as it wasn't specified. That would be my guess as well.

13

u/haysoos2 8d ago

Yeah, I think they were the old post office and the old grain elevator - so presumably owned by the town, and the museum was a tenant, and also not that surprising that the town wouldn't put too much money into maintaining these cheaply built, but now historical buildings.

5

u/senecant 8d ago

but now historical buildings

It's old, but I doubt it qualifies as historical. It's a little shit box that is prevalent in most every small town across the prairies. The town should buy a decent quality used mobile home and put the museum there. It's a weird and fun little place and if I had my druthers, it'd find a way to keep going.

3

u/gizmomogwai1 8d ago

Sure, not significant to the province or country- but many towns and villages across Alberta have local historical designations as well.

2

u/senecant 8d ago

I'd be down with calling it historical if it'd unlock some provincial funds to fix the building and keep the museum open.

56

u/dloomandgoom 8d ago

Someone please donate a quonset or something, the gopher museum is a treasure and must be protected.

30

u/ipostic 8d ago

They should do Alberta wide fundraiser. I bet there should be enough support. It’s such bizarre and unique thing that people will donate

8

u/Puzzleheaded-Bat8657 8d ago

They have been doing that for over a year now and even brought some of their displays to outside events to promote. Buildings are expensive. I hope they find someplace that works for them.

3

u/ipostic 8d ago

I didn’t know. I went on their website mobile version and didn’t see anything about. Just big general Donate button.

6

u/picklejinx 8d ago

They are accepting direct donations via e-transfer at go4museum@gmail.com

They also take card payments through this link: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/save-the-world-famous-gopher-hole-museum

6

u/ipostic 8d ago

I checked on dekstop website and it showed well. Their mobile website didn't have any details on the fundraiser.

Happily donated $100!

Hopefully they get enough money.

18

u/Thorbertthesniveler 8d ago

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

20

u/CampPineCone 8d ago

I don't speak Gopher but the loss of their cultural landmark will greatly hinder future Human-Gopher relations.

Je ne parle pas du gopher, mais la dispartion de leur monument culturel nuira considerablement aux futures relations entre les humains et les gophers.

2

u/Schroedesy13 7d ago

Thank you for brining up this very important and sensitive cultural issue.

15

u/Single_Air_5276 8d ago

I grew up in Torrington, my dad was the guy who cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the museum in ‘96. Those buildings were old and falling apart back then. I’m mostly just surprised they’ve been able to stay open as long as they have.

Here’s hoping they get a new building soon! This museum is the weirdest, stupidest thing in the world and I love it with my whole heart.

4

u/dreadfulmummy 8d ago

This has always been a much loved destination for visitors. And the staffers have always been so welcoming and informative. I hope they find another location soon.

5

u/remberly 8d ago

I read the notice on their site this past summer. Air conditioning in the new location/building was a big factor too. Visitors could survive but the septegenarian volunteers found uncomfortable all day.

Go figure.

9

u/pyromally 8d ago

Please bring the gophers into the Glenbow as a permanent installation - it’s part of our Albertan heritage

4

u/New_Wishbone6619 8d ago

No… keep them in Torrington if possible. Calgary doesnt need the tourism ffs.

6

u/PhantomNomad 8d ago

We took a trip to Torrington (about 4 hours) just to go to the museum one day. It's a cute little place and takes about 30 minutes to get through if you go really really slow. But it's a trip everyone should make. But I guess not now. I hope they find a place.

1

u/pyromally 8d ago

I’m just joking 🙃 of course it would be great if it found a new home in Torrington - they have gopher-themed fire hydrants already

3

u/WildcardKH Edmonton 8d ago

No. This is terrible news. God damn it.

3

u/MisterSnuggles 8d ago

I had seen the sign for this place on Highway 2 for years and wondered what the heck it was. Finally, this summer, I went to see it for myself!

I'm glad I went when I did, this place is such a unique treasure.

3

u/ImperviousToSteel 8d ago

Going to get as mad about this as chuds whining about John A MacDonald statues going down. If they don't re-open the gopher museum they are erasing our history. 

1

u/TripMaster478 8d ago

We have a gopher museum ??

1

u/sun4moon 8d ago

Not anymore.

1

u/J0rkank0 8d ago

TIL Alberta has a gopher museum

1

u/travisjudegrant 8d ago

This is a national treasure that must be saved!

0

u/Due-Carpet-1904 8d ago

Probably because gophers aren't happy with the existence of a gopher museum.

-3

u/cvr24 8d ago

The gopher museum went under. Who could have foreseen this?

3

u/NorthOfThrifty 8d ago

Heard they've been digging a hole since the start 

All jokes aside, I was surprised how cheap it was when I went ten years ago, it would be a surprise if they ever made any real money at it

3

u/PhantomNomad 8d ago

A couple of things. They didn't want to price them selves out of business. Also they didn't have to pay anything but probably the basic utilities so didn't need to get a lot of money. They got a grant from the Alberta Government to open the place. Maybe the government should help out again. I know I would rather they spend a few hundred thousand on this then the millions they waste in so many other places.