Winnipeg River Heritage Museum Interactive Exhibit

The Project

The original “St-Georges Museum” was destroyed by fire in 2014. Despite losing the building, a significant portion of its collection was rescued. Replacing the original building is a modern structure housing the preserved artifacts and an interactive exhibit designed by Pattern Interactive.

The Focus

The Ecology and Changing River exhibits allow visitors to delve into the region’s flora, fauna, and hydro-electric history. A dynamic touchscreen brings to life the region’s history with interactive maps showcasing the water impact due to dams.

The Challenge

The main hurdle was presenting vast historic materials in a crisp, engaging manner suited to a media-savvy audience. Pattern Interactive’s strength lies in sifting, filtering, and contextualizing such content, which aligned perfectly with the museum’s needs.

The History

Manitoba and northwestern Ontario’s hydro-electric evolution is central to Canada’s infrastructure modernization. The museum captures the legacy of those who lived and thrived on the Winnipeg River, emphasizing stories of Indigenous and Métis peoples, trade, settlements, and hydroelectric changes.

Solution

Pattern was hired in 2020 to design the interactive kiosk exhibit. Using a 55” touchscreen paired with a wall projection, they created a user-friendly interface showcasing a diverse range of content, from animal imagery to data visualizations. Users interact with the touchscreen while bystanders witness the content via the projection. Special attention was given to the accuracy of custom-drawn maps detailing the impact of generating stations.

Results

After overcoming challenges, including a global pandemic, the museum successfully reopened in June 2023. Visitors were able to experience all of the new space’s exhibits, including Pattern’s newest addition to the space; The Greatest people and the Homelife exhibit. We look forward to seeing the reactions from visitors as they tap and scroll around the interface, learning about this important piece of Manitoba’s history, people, and industry.