Whyte Museum of Canadian Rockies.

Getty Images/Lonely Planet Images

Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies

Top choice in Banff Town

LoginSave

Founded by local artists Catharine and Peter Whyte, the century-old Whyte Museum is more than just a rainy-day option. It boasts a beautiful, ever-changing gallery displaying art from 1800 to the present, by regional, Canadian and international artists, many with a focus on the Rockies. Watch for work by the Group of Seven (aka the Algonquin School). There's also a permanent collection telling the story of Banff and the hardy men and women who forged a home among the mountains.

Attached to the museum is an archive with thousands of photographs spanning the history of the town and park; these are available for reprint. The museum also organizes guided walking tours focused on Banff's history ($20) and heritage homes ($10).

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • A woman hiking above a vibrant turquoise lake in Banff National Park.

    Banff National Park

    18.83 MILES

    Of all Canada’s top sights, Banff National Park justifiably ranks as many people’s number one. As much a piece of history as a natural wonder, Canada’s…

  • Moraine Lake.

    Moraine Lake

    28.39 MILES

    The spectacular, deep teal waters of Moraine Lake are one of Banff National Park’s most iconic sights. The lake’s rugged and remote setting…

  • Details of the rock inside the Cave and Basin National Historic Site, Sulphur Mountain, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

    Cave & Basin National Historic Site

    0.74 MILES

    The Canadian National Park system was effectively born at these hot springs, discovered accidentally by three Canadian Pacific Railway employees on their…

  • Gondola, Sulphur Mountain, Banff, Alberta, Canada

    Banff Gondola

    2.01 MILES

    In summer or winter, you can summit a peak near Banff thanks to the Banff Gondola, with four-person enclosed cars that glide up to the top of Sulphur…

  • Man watching the sunrise at Vermillion Lakes, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

    Vermilion Lakes

    1.35 MILES

    West of town, this trio of tranquil lakes is a great place for wildlife spotting: elk, beavers, owls, bald eagles and ospreys can often be seen around the…

  • Banff Avenue

    Banff Avenue

    0.15 MILES

    A little over a century ago, Banff Ave was Banff. Initially, the central street was home to little more than a handful of hotels, homesteads and trail…

  • Bow Falls

    Bow Falls

    0.76 MILES

    About 500m south of town, just before the junction with Spray River, the Bow River plunges into a churning melee of white water at Bow Falls. Though the…

  • Upper Hot Springs Pool

    Upper Hot Springs Pool

    1.8 MILES

    Banff quite literally wouldn’t be Banff if it weren’t for its hot springs, which gush out from 2.5km beneath Sulphur Mountain at a constant temperature of…

View more attractions

Nearby Banff Town attractions

1. Banff Park Museum

0.1 MILES

Occupying the oldest surviving federal building in a Canadian National Park and dating from 1903, this museum is a national historic site. Its exhibits –…

2. Banff Avenue

0.15 MILES

A little over a century ago, Banff Ave was Banff. Initially, the central street was home to little more than a handful of hotels, homesteads and trail…

3. Buffalo Nations Luxton Museum

0.2 MILES

The Luxton Museum recounts the story of Alberta's indigenous people, with a strong emphasis on the Cree, Blackfoot, Blood and Stoney nations. The displays…

4. Old Banff Cemetery

0.36 MILES

Banff’s shaded cemetery is worth a visit, especially if you’re interested in the town’s history. Some of the gravestones date back to the 1890s; among the…

5. Marsh Loop

0.72 MILES

This 2.3km loop trail begins near the Cave & Basin National Historic Site and meanders through one of Banff’s most important areas of natural marshland…

6. Cave & Basin National Historic Site

0.74 MILES

The Canadian National Park system was effectively born at these hot springs, discovered accidentally by three Canadian Pacific Railway employees on their…

7. Bow Falls

0.76 MILES

About 500m south of town, just before the junction with Spray River, the Bow River plunges into a churning melee of white water at Bow Falls. Though the…

8. Forty Mile Creek Picnic Area

0.77 MILES

This popular picnic area sits just outside Banff's city limits off Mt Norquay Rd and is a good spot to crack open a hamper if you're short on time or…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting: 
    {
  "url": "canada/alberta/banff-town/attractions/whyte-museum-of-the-canadian-rockies/a/poi-sig/1363860/361215",
  "destination": "Banff-Town",
  "continent": "North-America",
  "country": "Canada",
  "city": "Banff-Town",
  "position": "superzone"
}