April 16, 2026
By Robert Goertzen
Why are museums important? For anyone working at a museum, this question comes up in conversations occasionally. And there are several reasons.
A museum is a bit like those photo albums that your family has organized and kept from years ago, documenting various stages of family life like a baby’s first steps, milestones like birthday parties, and significant vacation trips to another part of the province or country. Preserving these pictures is a way of documenting our history, ensuring that the memories can be revisited anytime we pull out the photo albums or open the digital files on our computer with images of significant family events. It’s important that we have a way to remember, that is tangible, not just in our memory. Museums offer these memories.
Hands-on learning is another important function of a museum. Engaging with history by making Schnetje (biscuits) just like grandma did when she was a young girl or using the blacksmith’s hammer to bend a piece of steel in the vice, or practicing Fraktur calligraphy in an old schoolhouse, are all activities that combine educational goals with real-life experiences. Each visit to a living history museum provides applications for science, art, and social studies that can be applied to our daily lives.
Local museums connect communities by bringing people together to celebrate the heritage of the area, reflecting on the efforts of previous generations to build strong foundations for future generations. Whether your family roots go back many generations in the community or you are a relative newcomer to the area, everyone feels a sense of belonging to this place that is our home when we spend time together supporting our community.
When a museum exhibits diverse cultures, stories, and human experiences, visitors are encouraged to be empathetic, tolerant, and understanding when interacting with each other. For example, when we hear about the first Mennonites who came to settle in Manitoba in the 1870’s, we may not understand or agree with the reasons for their decision to move, but learning about their experiences those first few years of building a Semlin (sod hut) and sharing their living quarters with their animals and battling cold winters and flooding living quarters in spring, impresses on us the experiences that shaped the new community that was developing on the prairie. We have a new appreciation for the efforts made by the early Mennonite settlers.
Museums play an important role in society and we welcome everyone to join us over the next few months. Spend some time with friends and family, interacting with the exhibits, the outdoor spaces, the farm animals, and the volunteer interpreters. As you connect with the past and recognize how it has shaped us, we look forward to continued conversations and shared experiences in the future.
April 18 at 10:00am – Volunteer Seminar & Fair
Interested in volunteering but don’t know where to start? Hear about the benefits of volunteering and get connected with local volunteering opportunities in Steinbach and area. Free admission for all.
April 19 at 12:00pm – Wedding and Event Showcase
Whether you’re planning a wedding, a corporate event, or a family gathering, the MHV Wedding and Events Showcase is the perfect time to see how MHV can be a part of your next group event.
April 22 at 7:00pm – Volunteer Orientation
We would like to invite you to our Volunteer Orientation! This informational evening will discuss the various volunteer opportunities that MHV offers. Our events & festivals, education program, and day-to-day operations would not be possible without the time and talent of many volunteers, so we’d love to meet you and have you join the team!
May 1 – Outdoor Village and farmyard is open for the summer.
May 1 – Livery Barn Restaurant is open for the summer.
Thank you for being a part of Mennonite Heritage Village.