...dedicated to the research, preservation, interpretation and exhibition of Cranbrook's heritage, with special emphasis on the history of the railway.



Cranbrook and Railway Historical Archives and Reference Library



Canadian Museum of Rail Travel



Landmarks Preservation Program



Annual Cranbrook Heritage Awards

The Cranbrook Archives, Museum and Landmark Foundation, —or CAMAL Foundation for short—is Cranbrook's own historical and heritage group. The Foundation was established on Heritage Day in 1976 by a group of interested citizens. It is a registered B.C. Society and a Canadian Charitable Organization.

The name resulted from a group of community-minded Heritage & Historical enthusiasts in Cranbrook in 1976. There are three (3) main areas of responsibilities in the Constitution relating to heritage concerns. They are:

1. Archives: to collect and catalogue a body of historical knowledge on Cranbrook and the railway for public and research use.
2. Museum: to assemble a collection of artifacts on the Railway, and on Cranbrook, and to build museum facilities to properly care for and exhibit these artifacts.
3. Landmarks: to encourage the public and private preservation of the architectural environment already existing in the community, and to have these on a public-scale of display.

The Society is dedicated to the research, preservation and restoration of the City of Cranbrook's heritage, and more particularly:

1. The encouragement of the study of Cranbrook's heritage in the public school system;
2. The encouragement of research into various aspects of Cranbrook's heritage.
3. The acquisition of various documents, photographs, and artifacts, etc., representative of Cranbrook's heritage;
4. The securing of a museum facility sufficient for the proper and safe storage and exhibition of Cranbrook's heritage;
5. The establishment of a sound program to ensure that the important landmarks of the city are protected and continue to be viable with the changing times
6. The establishment of an annual "Heritage Award" program to recognize outstanding contributions involving heritage improvements of a physical nature in Cranbrook.

The Cranbrook Archives, Museum and Landmark Foundation is also dedicated to the research, preservation and restoration of the Railway — with special reference to the Crowsnest and Kettle Valley route of the Canadian Pacific Railway and awareness and appreciation of its heritage, and to the aspects of railway travel in Canada (and the United States).

CAMAL has managed well administratively—struggling through times of lean budgets to support its rather large responsibilities. It has grown from assets of $1,500 in 1977, to assets worth over $5.5 million in 2003. The Foundation continues to bring into Cranbrook every year, thousands of dollars which are spent locally . Its Board of Directors, consisting of 12 people elected annually from the community, and its staff, continue to govern well and to provide the leadership necessary to sustain existing commitments, and at the same time foster controlled heritage growth.

CAMAL's aims were very carefully laid out in 1976, have been very closely adhered to and now the goals have been exceeded by even the most optimistic 1976 predictions. For instance:

1. Cranbrook and Historical Archives has grown significantly, and a body of historical knowledge about the community and the railway has been assembled and is still growing. It is located in quarters on the top floor of the Elko Station at the Railway Museum. This collection includes thousands of photographs, all old Cranbrook Newspaper volumes (over 100 volumes) from 1898 to 1975 and representing the Herald (1898-1927), the Prospector (1912-1914), the Courier (1919-1973), the Tribune (1931-1933), the Townsman (1947-1975), and the Kootenay Advertiser (1973-1975). There are also many books and other archival items for both Cranbrook and the Railway. By 2002, there were in excess of 20,000 items in the archives.
2. A Museum of significant international interest has been built—The Canadian Museum of Rail Travel—has an exceptional set of luxury passenger cars from the 1929 Trans-Canada Limited- the only one in existence. The cars are extensively used by the community as well as visited by tourists. It is one of the top attractions for the area, and certainly for the City. More cars from other Canadian Luxury Trains are now being assembled at tne new site to which the Museum relocated in September, 2002. In 1993 the Museum was renamed -The Canadian Museum of Rail Travel-Cranbrook,B.C. A highlight of the development was the display of the train at Expo '86 for six months.