Welcome to Living Prairie Museum
Face masks are strongly recommended for the public. Please avoid visiting if you are feeling unwell.
On recommande fortement que le public porte un masque. Veuillez éviter de vous rendre sur les lieux si vous ne vous sentez pas bien.
The Living Prairie Museum is a 13-hectare tall grass prairie preserve and nature park. Set aside in 1968, the preserve is home to more than 150 different grass and wildflower species and an array of prairie wildlife.
Prior to European settlement, tall grass prairie covered more than 1 million square kilometers in central North America, stretching from Texas to southern Manitoba. Today, this habitat is all but gone - only 1 percent of the original tall grass prairie remains. The Living Prairie Museum is one of the few remaining fragments of this once vast ecosystem.
The Living Prairie Museum's goal is to promote awareness and conservation of natural areas, specifically tall grass prairie, through environmental education.
Join us for the 14th Annual Monarch Butterfly Festival!
The format will be a little different this year and will be taking place over two days: Saturday July 16th and Sunday July 17th, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Come out to enjoy crafts, exhibit booths, live butterflies, guided hikes, prairie plant sales and milkweed giveaways while quantities last!
We are reserving milkweed plants to give away on both Saturday July 16th, and Sunday July 17th, so you won’t miss your chance if you come out on Sunday!
Tips for Attendance
- Pack some water and snacks.
- Be prepared to be outside for most of your visit!
- Refer to onsite schedule and maps for activity locations.
- Guided hikes each day, starting at 10:30am, 12:00pm, and 1:15pm.
- Donation incentives (butterfly wrist bands) will be cash only.
- Free on-street parking is available.
Environmental Education Programs
Living Prairie Museum is pleased to offer in-person environmental education programs. Please review our program brochure and contact us by phone or email to discuss your booking.
Self-Guided Trails
Our self-guided trails are available from dawn until dusk. The trail system is an opportunity to see and learn about some of the most endangered habitat in the world. Please stay on the designated paths during your visit. A reminder that this is an on-leash park – please clean up after your pets.
Self-Guided Trail booklet viewing format
Self-Guided Trail booklet to print
Living Prairie Museum Medicine Garden
As part of our commitment to reconciliation, a medicine garden has been planted in collaboration with the Living Prairie Museum, Indigenous Relations Division, and a local Indigenous Elder. The garden features sage and sweetgrass, two of the four Sacred Medicines which naturally occur in the tall grass prairie.
The medicine garden is located in the nature park west of the preserve at the north end of Prairie View Road at Ness Avenue. It can be harvested by the public during the summer, but care and attention are needed to maintain the garden. Only harvest what is needed, taking only the leaves and leaving roots and seeds to allow the plants to regenerate between harvests.
It is good practice to consult with an Elder to learn more on the harvest and use of sacred medicines.
More information on the Directional Teachings and the Four Sacred Medicines, as shared by Elder Carolyn Moar.
More information
- Activity Booklet for Kids - Learn about prairie wildlife and how you can become a citizen scientist
- For more information regarding history, videos, and herbarium visit: livingprairie.org
- To become a Friend of the Living Prairie Museum visit: Friends of the Living Prairie Museum
- For a walk through the prairie past, including historical photography visit virtualmuseum.ca
Hours
May and June – Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
July and August – Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
September – Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Outside of public hours, please call to make an appointment.
Location and contact information
The Interpretive Centre is located at:
2795 Ness Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba R3J 3S4 Phone: 204-832-0167 Fax: 311
