The Military and Mounted Police collection is a comprehensive military collection focused primarily on Canadian military history (with an emphasis on southern Alberta). It also includes holdings of European and Japanese arms and armour, and firearms and other weapons from around the world.
Arms and Armour
Glenbow Museum has a world-class collection of European and Japanese arms and armour; its Japanese collection is the largest in Canada. It was mostly collected by the Schuller family who purchased it at private sales and auctions in the 1930s and 1940s and later exhibited it in their private museum as "The Million Dollar Show."
Canada at War
The collection relating to Canadian military history is the largest, with specific emphasis on southern Alberta and primarily Calgary. All major conflicts are represented, including the North-West Rebellion, the Boer War, the First World War, the Second World War, and the Korean War in addition to peacetime military material culture.
Mounted Police
One of the defining influences on Western Canada was the Mounted Police. Glenbow Museum has an extensive collection of uniforms, badges, medals, documents, photos, artwork, and other material related to the Mounted Police. The collection is one of the largest and most comprehensive in Canada.
Firearms
There are over 2,100 firearms in Glenbow Museum's collection from the earliest types used in the sixteenth century to the present day. All ignition types are represented, including wheel locks, flintlocks, percussion, pinfire, and centrefire. There is also a fine collection of small arms equipment that includes powder horns, powder flasks, cartridges, and reloading tools.
Famous People and Battles
A wide range of famous military leaders and battles are represented in the Military and Mounted police collection. Most of these artifacts were purchased from the Royal United Service Institute Museum in London, England. The collection includes objects that were at famous battles and items that were owned by men like Pizarro and Napoleon.
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