Historic Sites of Manitoba: Northern Pacific and Manitoba Railway Repair Shop / Manitoba Children’s Museum (45 Forks Market Road, Winnipeg)

This structure, built in 1889 by the Northern Pacific and Manitoba Railway Company, is the oldest remaining railway repair facility in Manitoba. Originally, it included a machine shop, blacksmith shop, engine house, and ten-stall roundhouse and turntable. It fell into disrepair after 1909 as locomotive repairs were done at the Fort Rouge, Transcona, and Symington yards, although the building continued to be used into the 1960s. Between 1993 and 1994, it was renovated into the Manitoba Children’s Museum, and it opened officially on 31 May 1994. It is a provincially designated historic site (March 1995), with a plaque inside the building erected by the Manitoba Heritage Council.

Manitoba Children's Museum

Manitoba Children’s Museum (April 2015)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Manitoba Children's Museum

Manitoba Children’s Museum (October 2021)
Source: George Penner

Manitoba Children's Museum

Manitoba Children’s Museum (June 2024)
Source: Greg Petzold

CN locomotive 9161 (built by General Motors in 1952) and 1911 Pullman passenger coach at the Manitoba Children’s Museum

CN locomotive 9161 (built by General Motors in 1952) and 1911 Pullman passenger coach at the Manitoba Children’s Museum (December 2023)
Source: George Penner

Eaton's Fairytale Vignettes display from the ninth floor annex of the Eaton's downtown store at the Manitoba Children’s Museum

Eaton's Fairytale Vignettes display from the ninth floor annex of the Eaton's downtown store at the Manitoba Children’s Museum (December 2023)
Source: George Penner

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88762, W97.12850
denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Nistawayak / Forks of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers (The Forks, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Johnston Terminal Building (25 Forks Market Road, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Northern Pacific and Manitoba Railway Repair Shop / Manitoba Children’s Museum (45 Forks Market Road, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Canadian National Railway Power House (8 Forks Market Road, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Canadian Museum for Human Rights (85 Israel Asper Way, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Grand Trunk Pacific Railway Stable / Great Northern Railway Stable / Forks Market Building (1 Forks Market Road, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Canadian Northern Railway Freight Lift Bridge (The Forks, Winnipeg)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Provincially Designated Historic Sites

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Eaton’s Department Store (345 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

Northern Pacific and Manitoba Railway Repair Shop (The Manitoba Children’s Museum), 45 Forks Market Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba Historic Resources Branch.

We thank George Penner and Greg Petzold for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 15 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.

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