Hudson’s Bay Company artifacts at the Manitoba Museum Posted:

In better times, the Hudson's Bay Company made significant cultural donations, including more than 20,000 artifacts to the Manitoba Museum.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/06/2025 (452 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In better times, the Hudson’s Bay Company made significant cultural donations, including more than 20,000 artifacts to the Manitoba Museum.

The most famous is the 16-metre replica of the Nonsuch, the ketch that sailed into Hudson Bay in 1668-69, commissioned by HBC to celebrate its tercentenary in 1970.

The museum’s collection also includes brass tokens used as currency in the fur trade, a Plains hide dress and birch-bark canoe, and an array of other Indigenous and colonial objects related to navigation, exploration, retail and trade.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM Amelia Fay, Curator of Anthropology and the HBC Museum Collection at the Manitoba Museum, shows paintings that would have been on display in stores.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

Amelia Fay, Curator of Anthropology and the HBC Museum Collection at the Manitoba Museum, shows paintings that would have been on display in stores.

Here’s a small selection of items included in the massive collection.

 

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM Branded items that would have been sold in the stores.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

Branded items that would have been sold in the stores.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM Branded items that would have been sold in the stores.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

Branded items that would have been sold in the stores.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM Late 19th or early 20th century beaded wall pocket, unrecorded Anishinaabe artist.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

Late 19th or early 20th century beaded wall pocket, unrecorded Anishinaabe artist.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM Early 20th century Siberian wall pocket made from sealskin, unrecorded artist.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

Early 20th century Siberian wall pocket made from sealskin, unrecorded artist.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM Desk calendar, reportedly left at Fort Chipewyan by Sir John Franklin.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

Desk calendar, reportedly left at Fort Chipewyan by Sir John Franklin.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM Very large items sit covered in an alcove of the the HBC collections lab.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

Very large items sit covered in an alcove of the the HBC collections lab.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM There are drawers full of HBC blankets and sashes.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

There are drawers full of HBC blankets and sashes.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM Late 19th century binoculars owned by George Simpson McTavish Jr.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

Late 19th century binoculars owned by George Simpson McTavish Jr.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM Early 20th century beaded bible bag, given to George Fowlie in York Factory, unrecorded artist
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

Early 20th century beaded bible bag, given to George Fowlie in York Factory, unrecorded artist

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM A beam scale from 1838, likely used at York Factory.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

A beam scale from 1838, likely used at York Factory.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM Late 19th century copper trade kettle, a popular trade good brought in by HBC.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

Late 19th century copper trade kettle, a popular trade good brought in by HBC.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM The collection includes many handmade items of clothing.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

The collection includes many handmade items of clothing.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM A beaded Bandolier.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

A beaded Bandolier.

HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM 1970s HBC blanket coat with fur trim.
HBC MUSEUM COLLECTION / MANITOBA MUSEUM

1970s HBC blanket coat with fur trim.

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