Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies
Whyte Museum
A museum of Canadian Rockies history and art in Banff town, with exhibits on mountaineering, Indigenous peoples and early tourism.
The Whyte Museum was founded by Banff local painters Peter and Catharine Whyte and opened in 1968 beside the Bow River along Banff Avenue. Rotating exhibitions show Rockies landscape paintings, photography and mountaineering history, telling the stories of the Stoney Nakoda people, the railway era, early guides and mountaineers. The museum also holds a large collection of historical archives. The grounds retain several historic log cabins, including the cabin of guide Bill Peyto (after whom Peyto Lake is named), which can be seen on a guided tour. Tickets are required. A visit takes about one hour, making it a good option on a rainy day.
Opening hours
10:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Banff Town
- Bow Falls
- Fairmont Banff Springs
- Tunnel Mountain
- Cave and Basin National Historic Site
- Vermilion Lakes
- Banff Upper Hot Springs
- Banff Gondola (Sulphur Mountain)