Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre
401 First Street SE T1A 8W2 Medicine Hat, AB, Canada

? This artefact doesn't seem to fit into the Collection, but it's true use makes sense. What do you think this is?

#ThisWeekInMedicineHatHistory December 9, 1910 - poet and author Rudyard Kipling writes his support for keeping "Medicine Hat" as the name of the city, when a vote was being prepared on whether to change the name. In 1910 Medicine Hat, like much of western Canada, was booming. As cities across the prairies were competing for lucrative investment in new industry, every community was looking for an advantage. Some ‘newcomers’ argued that Medicine Hat’s unique name was a liabili...ty while the old-timers (those who at that point had been resident’s of the Hat since the 1880s) railed against removing a name that made this community stand out on the map. Calling in the big guns, their spokesperson, Mr. Francis F. Fatt, wrote to Mr. Rudyard Kipling (author of The Jungle Book, and likely one of the biggest celebrities of the day) to get his support. Mr. Kipling, who had visited Medicine Hat in 1907, wrote a strongly worded letter in response, defending the name Medicine Hat. The original letters, held as a beacon of Medicine Hat’s enduring uniqueness, have been lost to time, but fortunately were reprinted in the Medicine Hat News in 1910, and numerous times since.

The Esplanade Elves handed out Holiday thank you gifts to our volunteers in COViD style...drive-by! Thank you to all of our volunteers!! We appreciate you all!!

Tonight is and we are ready for you at TrexSpace! Matted images from the Archives (5 different prints!) Children's Guide to the City - Medicine Hat Walking Tour Booklets... Make sure you stop by and get yours tonight!

#ThisWeekInMedicineHatHistory November 20, 1892 - Arthur Moran Cochrane (aged 15) and Harold Walton, 10, were caught in a blizzard and perished. For many years, their graves in the pioneer cemetery (Old Hillside Cemetery, above Kin Coulee) was marked by an iron bedframe.

That's right...masks at the Esplanade as well. See you soon!

? Our lives are full of stories. Memories are imbedded in places and in objects. Even those little pieces of the past, those items kept for sentimental reasons, have a story connected to them. In this week's episode, check out the story from a handkerchief.

Due to unforeseen circumstances tonight’s show for Michael Bernard Fitzgerald at the Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre has been postponed. We will announce a ne...w date for the rescheduled show as soon as possible. Ticket holders for tonight’s show will be contacted via email. Thanks for your understanding.

Today is the LAST DAY for ‘Outgrowth’ and ‘Thinking of Others’! Thank you to these amazing artists, @zachari_logan and @sonz1 for their remarkable talents and displaying them in our gallery! #medhat #localartist #reginaartist #pastel #pastelart #graffiti #graffitiart #albertaartist

is almost here! Have a piece of Medicine Hat History! FIVE different matted photos from the Archives... Available at TREX Space from 1PM - Midnight Each print is $20. Limited quantities available. Get them while you can!

I’m excited to return to Medicine Hat - I can remember being there years ago for Tongue on the Post Festival - I was still pretty new to touring and festivals and had made an error on the festival schedule for my performance times. I ended up sending the band home with the van and with a leap of faith stayed on to play the last workshop with no way home... in between songs I jokingly and repeatedly mentioned that I had no ride home to Calgary. We sorted out the ride sometime ...during the set and set off in a kind med hatter’s car! Great people in Medicine Hat - Looking forward to returning Saturday! - Michael Bernard Fitzgerald Medicine Hat Folk Music Club Tourism Medicine Hat