Life on the Prairies

Step back in time and experience the grit, determination, and ingenuity that defined life on the Canadian prairies. At the End of Steel Heritage Museum, each building on the grounds is a living chapter of a story written by settlers who carved homes, communities, and livelihoods out of open prairie.

Pioneer Homesteads

Our pioneer homes capture the reality of early settlement—simple log and frame structures built with local materials, where every square foot served a purpose. Inside, you’ll find period furnishings, tools, and personal artifacts that reveal the daily routines of farm families: baking bread in wood stoves, sewing clothes by hand, and tending large gardens to sustain them through long winters. These homes remind us that comfort was often secondary to survival, yet warmth and hospitality were never in short supply.

The Ukrainian Cultural Display

One of the most vibrant stops on your journey is the Ukrainian cultural exhibit, celebrating the traditions brought by immigrants who made this region their new home. Here, intricate embroidery, handcrafted tools, and authentic bread-making artifacts tell the story of a community that preserved its heritage while adapting to prairie life. The exhibit’s centrepiece—items connected to the making of svitanok, a traditional Ukrainian bread—shows how food, faith, and family bound people together.

Resilience and Community

Prairie life was never easy. Harsh winters, unpredictable crops, and the isolation of rural life demanded not only hard work, but cooperation. Neighbours helped build barns, shared harvest equipment, and came together for dances, church gatherings, and community suppers. In every building and display, you’ll find evidence of the resilience and unity that defined these early settlers.

A Living Story

“Life on the Prairies” isn’t just a look into the past—it’s a testament to the spirit that still runs through Hines Creek and the Peace Country today. The museum’s historic buildings invite you to slow down, explore, and imagine what it took to build a life from the ground up in a land both beautiful and demanding.