The Royal Alberta Museum opens this Wednesday with FREE admission

Western Canada’s largest museum opens its doors to the public this Wednesday.

The Royal Alberta Museum, the newest (and, did we mention, biggest) museum on this side of the country is set to open on October 3 and will be offering free admission for the following six days.

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The grand opening coincides with Thanksgiving long weekend, giving potential attendees some extra time off to check out Edmonton’s shiny new building.

“The new Royal Alberta Museum is an architectural showpiece where Albertans will see their history, their province, and themselves reflected inside the walls of this building,” said Alberta’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Ricardo Miranda in a release from the Government of Alberta.

“Visitors will experience transformative moments that have shaped our province – connecting our past to our present. Building a museum is a mammoth task and we look forward to welcoming Albertans back to their provincial museum to show what we have accomplished in bringing this world-class museum to life.”

Anyone who comes by the museum between October 3 to 8 will get in for the extremely affordable price of zero dollars and zero cents — a savings of $19 when compared to the regular admission (for adults) that will come into effect starting October 9.

Once inside, you’ll be able to explore a museum spanning over 419,000-sq-ft and take a look at over 5,300 interesting objects including (but definitely not limited to):

• Expansive Human History and Natural History Halls chronicling the history of Alberta’s people, animals, and landscapes
• An interactive Children’s Gallery designed for hands-on learning through play
• An expansive Bug Gallery with a visible hatchery
• A free admission space dedicated to the Manitou Stone

“I’m so pleased to see this long-awaited addition to our downtown core,” said Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson in the release.

“It will enhance visitors’ historical and cultural experiences in our city and encourage more tourism which, in turn, benefits our local economy.”

Free spots for the opening weekend were available for registration but, understandably, have all been booked up. There are approximately 10,000 walk-up admissions available throughout the opening weekend, though the website warns that lines are anticipated.

The new museum can be found at 9810 103a Avenue in downtown Edmonton.

Royal Alberta Museum Grand Opening

When: Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Opening weekend hours: