
Fort la Reine Museum in Portage La Prairie.
Mystery at the Museum: Ghost Stories is back at the Fort la Reine Museum in Portage La Prairie. Visitors will be guided through a theatrical tour through the museum grounds with tour guides in character costumes who will share stories of unusual and unexplained occurrences that have happened in the area.
Just in time for the autumn equinox, when the night time is equal to the day time, ancient cultures have associated this time of year with ancestors, death and introspection. There is a symbolic correlation between the light and the dark at this time.
The museum is no stranger to unexplained phenomenon. Executive Director, Tracey Turner, mentioned that, “There is a direct connection between old things, places, and the spirit of people that used them in the past.” She and many of the staff at the museum have witnessed and experienced strange sights, sounds and scents at the museum over the years.
“Museum’s are old places. They hold old energy associated with the material things that are in our collection,” states Turner.
On one occasion while standing in one of the buildings at the museum, Turner felt someone pulling her hair braid from behind, but when she turned around, no one was there. The tour is family friendly but it is advised to bring the little ones to the earlier tours as the theatrics get a little heavier later in the evening.
Tickets are available at the Fort la Reine Museum by calling 204-857-3259 or at Hill’s Drugstore in Portage la Prairie. Tickets can be charged by phone at the Museum, and are also available at the door. The tours go from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. each night with the last tour starting at 9 p.m. The tour is approximately one hour long with a new one starting every 15 minutes.
Also coming up at the museum (to get you in the mood for Halloween): Fort la Reine Family Ghost Walk October 18th and 25th from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Here, you can be escorted through the spooky village while seeing and hearing Manitoba’s most intriguing ghost stories, and trick or treat your way through our ghostly past. The event is family friendly and costumes are welcome.
Ongoing until September 30 is the ‘Give Peace A Chance’ exhibit featuring a display of many photographs of the famous ‘Bed-in’ with John & Yoko Lennon that have never been seen before. (see review ‘All we are saying is give peace a chance‘)
The Fort La Reine Museum is located at 692 Saskatchewan Avenue East in Portage LaPrairie (east end of the city). Hours are Wednesday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information on other events and shows at the Fort La Reine Museum visit their website at fortlareinemuseum.com