Brandon General Museum and Archives Inc.

Latest Exhibit

Currently we are exhibiting “From This Chair: The Mayors of Brandon from 1882 to the present”.

The exhibit features the City Council Chambers from Brandon's original City Hall building, photographs of and biographies on all of Brandon's Mayors. Which Mayor received the Order of Canada? Who is Brandon's longest-serving Mayor? Who is the only Brandon Mayor to have served in all three levels of government? Which Mayor was pro-prostitution?

Photos from this Exhibit

For more info, call 717-1514 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Who We Are / About the Museum

In 2007, the Brandon General Museum and Archive Inc. was formed as a committee by the City of Brandon in 2007. In 2009, we incorporated into a non-profit organization in order to act as a charity and issue tax receipts for donations. Today we are governed by a Board, made up of three City Councillors and nine community members. We have one employee, who is a coordinator for the museum.

The BGMA, when fully established will be a Community Museum supported entirely by memberships, grants, donations, and Fund Raisers. Memberships cost are as follows:

• Individual - $25.00
• Family - $35.00
• Corporate - $150.00

Our mission is to collect, conserve, study, exhibit and interpret historic and heritage materials relating to the City of Brandon and its place within the history of Southwestern Manitoba. The Brandon General Museum and Archives is located on the ground floor of the old Manitoba Telephone building at 19 Ninth Street. A big congratulations to Koralea and Scott Read of Kreative Energy for creating the BGMA logo!

Regular hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 1 p.m.- 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Stephanie Doerksen, Museum Coordinator
19 9th Street
Brandon, MB R7A 4A3
Phone: 717-1514
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our Location: The Manitoba Government Telephone Building

In 1882 the first telephone service in Brandon was started by the Bell Telephone Company, but in 1908 it was taken over by the Manitoba Government. In 1916 they constructed the Manitoba Government Telephone Building in Brandon at 19 - 9th Street to house the Telephone Exchange equipment, and offices. The building was designed by Winnipeg architects, Fingland and Hanford, and it is described as ‘Georgian Revival, (1905 - 1930)’. It was originally only two stories high but in 1929 a third floor was added.

Fingland and Hanford created a new style for the new century, and this building is an illustration of the change of taste which took place just before WWI using brick faced exteriors. Georgian Revival was designed to restore order and simplicity to architecture following the exuberant styles of the late 19th century, some of which can be seen along Rosser Avenue with their recessing or projecting bricks.

The red brick decoration is formed with flat panels of geometrical patterns with the brick in the more fashionable rough texture of the time. The composition is a careful balance of five bays, with the three in the center being recessed. The pediment over the main entrance is mirrored by the one located above the window at the other corner.

The Brandon General Museum is open to the public on the ground floor of this historic structure and is located in the Renaissance district of down town Brandon. While across the road is the Heritage site of McKenzie seeds, to the north is the newly renovated Crystal Hotel, the Pub, the Newfie Cafe, and to the south is the ethnic watering hole known as the Double Decker Pub and Restaurant. (Source: Brandon, An Architectural Walking Tour.)