Holiday season – View holiday hours for City of Winnipeg facilities and services from December 24 to January 1.
Welcome to Living Prairie Museum
Living Prairie Museum is a unique urban nature preserve that protects endangered tall grass prairie. The site has walking trails and an interpretive centre. Events and education programs are held year-round.
About Tall Grass Prairie
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 has 13 hectares of tall-grass prairie. Set aside in 1968, the preserve is home to more than 150 different grass and wildflower species and an array of prairie wildlife.
Upcoming Events
Winter Educational Programs
Book your winter educational program now!
On-site Programs
Special winter programs on the prairie include our Snowshoe Excursion, Tracks and Bannock, and Animals in Winter! We also offer a variety of other group programs for ages 5 to adult.
Nature Comes to You Programs
We bring the prairie to you with 1-hour interactive presentations at your school, centre, or workplace! Available for ages 5 to adult.
Book your winter program by contacting us at prairie@winnipeg.ca or 204-832-0167. See our full education program brochure for more details.
Snowshoe Sundays
Sundays January and February
Learn to snowshoe, explore the prairie, and have fun!
Drop in on Sundays in January and February 10 AM - 3 PM for free 1-hour snowshoe rentals!
Planned dates: Jan 5, 12, 19, 26; Feb 2, 9, 16, 23
*please note that dates may change depending on snow conditions*
Fireside Fun
Sunday January 26
Join us at Fireside Fun for a cozy winter gathering, indoors and out! This event is great for the all ages, and admission is free.
- Free ski and snowshoe rentals
- Music and storytelling
- Unveiling of RENEWAL art installation all about prairie fire by Ebba Bohlin and Tracy Peters
- Outdoor bonfire and bannock making
- Prairie Art Contest winners gallery with Winnipeg Wildflower Project
- AND MORE
Check back soon for more details and event schedule.
For more information on this event, or to volunteer, please contact the Living Prairie Museum.
Visiting Living Prairie Museum
Self-Guided Trails
Our self-guided trails are open from dawn until dusk. The trail system is an opportunity to see and learn about some of the most endangered habitat in the world.
Trails are woodchipped and are of various widths.
Please stay on the designated paths during your visit. This is an on-leash park – please clean up after your pets.
The Self-guided Trail Booklet is also available at the Museum.
Interpretive Centre Hours
May and June – Saturdays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
July and August – Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
September – Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
October to April – Open by Appointment. Contact us at 204-832-0167 or prairie@winnipeg.ca
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.
Environmental Education Programs and Group Bookings
Living Prairie Museum offers a variety of in-person environmental education programs. Programs are available for schools and groups ages 5 to adult. Each program includes an interactive presentation and an outdoor adventure. Curriculum links are available for most of our programs. We also offer snowshoeing and Nature Comes to You programming in winter.
2024-25 Environmental Education brochure
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
Location and contact information
The Interpretive Centre is located at:
2795 Ness Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3J 3S4
Phone: 204-832-0167
Email: prairie@winnipeg.ca
Fax: 311
Living Prairie Museum can be reached by car, by active transportation on the Yellow Ribbon Greenway, and on the #24, #25, #83 bus routes.
Contact us for accessibility information for building, trails, and programs.
Last update:
November 22, 2024