Permanent Exhibits
Our permanent exhibit reflects the history and role of the Anglican Church in the Yukon and tells stories of early missionaries, whalers, explorers and Yukon First Nations.
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On display at the Old Log Church Museum you will see a fully restored heritage church interior, ethnographic and whaling artifacts, decorative arts, ecclesiastical vestments, and furnishings from the missions and churches of the Anglican Church in Yukon. As well you will learn about fascinating pioneers such as Isaac O. Stringer, the second Bishop of the Yukon and the "bishop who ate his boots," Reverend R. J. Bowen who constructed many of the churches around the territory and Reverend H. A. Cody, who became a well-published author.
Temporary Exhibits
In this temporary display of church-related photos taken by James Quong, we see Anglican churches around the Yukon, confirmation and Sunday School classes, visiting bishops and consecration of the new cathedral in Whitehorse in 1960. This temporary exhibit is a part of a larger Yukon-wide James Quong photo exhibit.
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James Quong's Church
James Quong was an engineer on the Alaska Highway during its construction. He designed many sections of the road and its bridges. He was also an avid photographer interested in a broad range of subjects. Following the war, Mr. Quong remained in the Yukon working for the Northwest Highway System. The images he left us depict the Yukon, its land, people and events from the mid 1940s to the mid 1960s. The exhibits are a collaboration amongst Yukon Archives—where the Quong collection now resides, three Yukon museums (Yukon Transportation Museum, Dawson City Museum and the Old Log Church Museum), and the Friends of the Yukon Archives Society.
Thank you to Rob Ingram from Midnight Arts, Wendy Solokon, Ian Burnett, Lesley Buchan from Yukon Archives, Casey and Kathy from Yukon Transportation Museum, Laura Mann from Dawson City Museum, Claire Eamer and Diane Chisholm from the Friends of Yukon Archives Society (FOYAS), Ken Quong and the rest of the Quong family, and YTG Tourism and Culture and the Community Development Fund, for all of your support and involvement in this project.
Travelling Exhibits
The Bishop Who Ate His Boots exhibit has returned from its multi-year cross Canada tour, after travelling to various locations in the NWT, BC, AB, ON, and YT. The OLCM will showcase pieces of the exhibit at the museum on a rotational basis over the next number of years.
The travelling exhibit Connections to the Past, Legacy for the Future celebrates the many men and women whose faith, devotion, and spirit forged the Anglican Church's 150 years in the North. It is available for loan to any church or heritage/cultural institution in the Yukon. Please contact us for more details.
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The Bishop Who Ate His Boots
The Old Log Church Museum developed this travelling exhibit to tell the story of Bishop Isaac Stringer and his wife Sadie and their contribution to the history of the northern Anglican missions. The Stringers spent 39 years in the North ministering to the Inuvialuit and commercial whalers at Herschel Island and the First Nation and non-First Nation populations in the Yukon Territory.
We would like to thank the Museums Assistance Program, Department of Canadian Heritage for funding assistance for this exhibit.
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Connections to the Past, Legacy for the Future: 150 Years of the Anglican Church in the North
The story of the Anglican Church in the North is virtually inseparable from the story of the Yukon Territory as a whole. Since establishing its presence in 1861, the Church has played an active role in many significant events that have shaped the Yukon. When fur traders entered the territory, the Anglican missionaries were not far behind. When thousands stampeded to the Klondike to strike it rich, displacing the First Nations people, the Anglican Church was there to work with the Mounties to help establish peace and civility. When the Alaska Highway brought thousands more into the Yukon and connected the territory with the south, the Anglican Church responded by expanding its missions along the emerging highway communities. Through all of these great historical events, as well as the smaller ones in between, the Anglican Church was a constant stabilizing force for many.
Online Exhibits
With the following two online exhibits, learn about the history and culture of Herschel Island and some of the arctic missionaries in the late 1800s and early 20th century, including the bizarre and harrowing 51-day journey of Bishop Isaac O. Stringer, known as "the bishop who ate his boots."
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The Bishop Who Ate His Boots
The Old Log Church Museum developed this virtual museum website to tell the story of Bishop Isaac Stringer and his wife Sadie and their contribution to the history of the northern Anglican missions. The Stringers spent 39 years in the North ministering to the Inuvialuit and commercial whalers at Herschel Island and the First Nation and non-First Nation populations in the Yukon Territory.
The Old Log Church Museum/Yukon Church Heritage Society gratefully acknowledges the financial investment by the Department of Canadian Heritage in the creation of this online presentation for the Virtual Museum of Canada. We would also like to thank Museum's Unit, Business, Tourism, Culture, and Government of Yukon for their financial support.
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Explore Herschel Island (VMC)
Herschel Island is located at the mouth of the Mackenzie River Delta in the Beaufort Sea. As home to the Inuvialuit culture, the island has been settled since time immemorial. This virtual museum exhibit explores the history and culture of the island from the days of the whalers hunting bowhead whales for their sustenance to the present. Both the North West Mounted Police and the Hudson's Bay Company established outposts on Herschel Island early in the 20th century. This virtual exhibit was created by the Yukon Territorial Government, Heritage Branch and can be found at the Virtual Museum of Canada.