At the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum, our mission is to preserve and share the stories of rural Alberta while providing an entertaining and educational experience for all visitors. We strive to promote curiosity, creativity, and a sense of humor, fostering a deeper appreciation for rural communities, prairie biodiversity, ecosystems, farming, and the business of agriculture.

 

Over the last 30 years, the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in Torrington, Alberta, has become a beloved Canadian icon and bucket list experience for folks from across the globe. Sharing the stories of small rural communities through unique anthropomorphic displays of daily life, this little museum, created and run entirely by volunteers, has been featured by CBC, AMA Travel, in university textbooks, Ripley's Believe It Or Not!, and more. Aside from the small provincial startup grant that aided in our creation, this museum has been entirely self-sufficient, bringing in just enough revenue to open the doors to visitors each summer (and often making special exceptions in the off-season). Our museum has been a part of many important milestones, including engagements, family reunions, birthdays, memorials, and vacations. 

 

The building the museum calls home is composed of two historic buildings, a former schoolhouse and grain elevator office, joined by a very small hallway. These buildings are rapidly showing their age and are in desperate need of replacement. Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful in our attempts to secure a new facility that meets our unique needs, and without intervention, we risk losing the museum entirely. The society that operates the museum, the Torrington Tourism Action Society (TTAS), needs your support to ensure a successful future for this Alberta gem. 

 

Your generous donation will be used to secure and install a new facility for the World Famous Gopher Hole Museum in it's existing location, preserve the two historical buildings that are currently in use, and develop new exhibitions and supplementary content.

 

Unfortunately, as we are not currently a registered charity, we are unable to offer a tax receipt for your donation. If this prevents you from making a financial contribution today, there are other ways you can help:

• Share this campaign with your community! Use social media, word of mouth, a thoughtful postcard - however you can spread the word!

• Follow us on social media! Facebook | Instagram

• Send us your pictures, memories, and stories about the museum! We would love to hear what the museum means to you!

• Visit our museum and gift shop! Check out our website for hours of operation, directions, and updates.

 

To our community: We would not be where we are today without your endless support, enthusiasm, and love. This weird, eccentric, and unconventional little museum has touched countless lives in so many incredible ways that inspire us to keep the museum, your memories, and our small community alive and well. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.