Museum unveils new exhibit in time for Fair Days
gopher a good time at fair days - The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington has made a special exhibit for the Claresholm and District Museum to commemorate Fair Days, which happens this weekend. The exhibit depicts two gophers by a classic car. The exhibit opened on Aug. 2 and will be open until the end of the museum season. From left are Jordyn Wallace, executive director of the museum, and Emmitt Carlson, collections assistant, with the exhibit. Photo by Rob Vogt
By Rob Vogt
The announcement was shrouded in mystery.
An ad in the Local Press simply said “The Claresholm and District Museum has a massive announcement!” on Aug. 2.
Visitors arrived to discover an exhibit created by the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington specifically for the Claresholm museum.
With Claresholm Fair Days running this Thursday to Sunday, the exhibit commemorates the occasion.
It depicts two gophers by a classic car presumably on their way to Fair Days.
The exhibit came to Claresholm as a result of work done by Emmitt Carlson, the museum’s collections assistant.
He saw on social media the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington made an exhibit for the Vulcan museum on a “Star Trek” theme.
So, he contacted the Gopher Hole Museum and asked if they could do something similar for Claresholm.
The responded enthusiastically and, this past weekend, the exhibit arrived already assembled.
Bonnie Downey, president of the Friends of the Museum, was the first to see the new exhibit.
“I think it’s awesome,” she said.
Visitors will have plenty of time to check out the exhibit, because it will be at the museum until the season closes on Aug. 28.
The World Famous Gopher Hole Museum is 20 minutes from Olds and offers more than 77 gophers in more than 47 displays with different themes, costumes and props mirroring small town life.