A monument next to the Interlake Pioneer Trail at Inwood in the Rural Municipality of Armstrong features a pair of large garter snakes, dubbed S-sam & S-sara. Crafted in 1988 by three local artists Marlene Magnusson Hourd, Vera Clarke, and Graham Clarke, they commemorate the massive number of Red-Sided Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) in this region of Manitoba. The snakes hibernate in limestone crevices over the winter and come out each spring. The largest concentrations are found in the Narcisse Wildlife Management Area north of Inwood.
Giant Snake monument at Inwood (December 2015)
Source: George Penner
Giant Snake monument at Inwood (June 2019)
Source: Rose Kuzina
Giant Snake monument at Inwood (May 2024)
Source: Rose KuzinaSite Coordinates (lat/long): N50.50865, W97.49489
denoted by symbol on the map above
The Interlake Beckoned: A History of Inwood and Surrounding Districts by Inwood History Book Committee, 1980. [Manitoba Legislative Library]
“Town raises garters in statue,” Winnipeg Free Press, 11 April 1988, page 3.
“Snake statue,” Winnipeg Free Press, 12 May 1988, page 1.
This page was prepared by George Penner, Rose Kuzina, and Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 19 July 2024
Historic Sites of Manitoba
This is a collection of historic sites in Manitoba compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The information is offered for historical interest only.
Browse lists of:
Museums/Archives | Buildings | Monuments | Cemeteries | Locations | OtherInclusion in this collection does not confer special status or protection. Official heritage designation may only come from municipal, provincial, or federal governments. Some sites are on private property and permission to visit must be secured from the owner.
Site information is provided by the Manitoba Historical Society as a free public service only for non-commercial purposes.
Send corrections and additions to this page
to the MHS Webmaster at webmaster@mhs.mb.ca.Help us keep history alive!
