AKUDLIK MARSH

Located between Churchill and the airport, this marsh is a nesting area for several birds of interest, including Little Gull and Rock Wren among many others. This is also the site where the first North American nesting site of the elusive Ross’s Gull was recorded. A trail system throughout the marsh starts across the road from the Goose Creek turnoff.

ESKIMO MUSEUM

Run by the Diocese of Churchill – Hudson Bay, the Eskimo Museum is home to one of the oldest and most comprehensive collection of Inuit artifacts and sculpture in Canada. The Museum is dedicated to advancing knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of Northern culture and history with an emphasis on the Canadian Inuit. The Museum had its origins in 1944 when Roman Catholic missionaries from the order of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate recognized the value of preserving carvings representative of the culture of the people of the North. The exhibit now includes historic and contemporary sculptures of stone, bone, and ivory, as well as archaeological and wildlife specimens.

CAMP NANUQ

A favorite cabin spot, fifteen kilometres east of Churchill, near shallow lakes where Pacific Loons and Long-tailed Ducks nest annually. The local Scout camp is located here as well including a log cabin rest area near Lord Lake (accessible from the Boy Scout Camp).

CHURCHILL NORTHERN STUDIES CENTRE

The Churchill Northern Studies Centre (CNSC) was established in 1976 by the people of Churchill with cooperation from the Government of Manitoba. It is a non-profit charitable corporation with a mandate to facilitate arctic research and education. The CNSC hosts climate change research projects, the Canadian Wildlife Service polar bear project and long-term bird behaviour and survival studies to name a few.
More Information: www.churchillscience.ca

GOOSE CREEK

About ten kilometres up the Churchill River, this is a very picturesque fishing spot where you can catch arctic grayling, northern pike and sea run trout. It is a good staging area for migrating snow geese and sandhill cranes. The area is excellent for photography as well as hunting waterfowl in fall. This is the location of a cottage sub-division as well as the water supply pump station, accessible by road. There is also a marina and viewing tower with interpretive display along the creek.

PORT OF CHURCHILL

Canada’s only prairie province seaport has been run by Denver, Colorado based Omni-Trax for ten years now. Shipping season is from the end of July to the end of October with 20-30 ships passing through this terminal. Churchill is a major world grain distribution point shipping to Africa, the Mediterranean and Europe. Barges also ship supplies from Churchill to coastal communities in Nunavut.  More Information: www.portofchurchill.ca

MISS PIGGY

Miss Piggy is a crashed C46 aircraft that was operated by Lamb Air. She is found on the scenic route road along Hudson Bay shortly before it ends. She is called Miss Piggy because she was able to hold so much freight and once did have pigs on board. In November 1979, she was flying a cargo of one snowmobile and many cases of pop for the Arctic Co-op from Churchill to Chesterfield Inlet. She lost oil pressure in her left engine shortly after departing Churchill. The crew of three tried to return the aircraft to the Churchill airport but clipped hydro poles and crash landed on the rocks there and becoming a strange and new tourist attraction.

MV ITHACA

The wreck of the MV Ithaca sits just outside Bird Cove, 12 miles east of Churchill, high and dry when the tide is low and completely surrounded by water when the tide is in. According to Lloyds of London, (the company insuring the Ithaca) it was a British flag steamship, built in 1922 in Three Rivers, Quebec. It was bound for Rankin Inlet to deliver 30 tons of equipment, including 2 generators and plywood panels for the Department of Transport. Its right rudder broke in an eighty mile an hour gale and it floundered near Bird Cove on Sept 14, 1960.

CAPE MERRY (National Historic Site)

A short trip west of Churchill, you will find Cape Merry National Historic Site and a beautiful view of the mouth of the Churchill River. Managed by Parks Canada, this site is the former cannon battery designed to complement Prince of Wales Fort, visible on the other side of the river. The cape is an excellent vantage point for observing the Beluga whales that frequent the tidal area of the river throughout the summer. Good sunset shots of Prince of Wales Fort can be taken here. Cape Merry is a must for birders, in search of Harlequin Ducks and King Eiders, as well as any visitors to the area. Be careful, this is also a popular spot for polar bears from July through to November.
More Information: www.pc.gc.ca

SLOOP COVE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Situated on the western peninsula, four kilometres from the mouth of the Churchill River, this abandoned Hudson Bay Company harbour contains 18th Century rock signatures, including the Arctic explorer, Samuel Hearne. Accessible by boat only at high tide. Contact Parks Canada for more information.
More Information: www.pc.gc.ca

PRINCE OF WALES FORT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

In 1731, the Hudson Bay Company commissioned the building of a massive stone fortress called the Prince of Wales Fort on a rocky peninsula known as Eskimo Point. The HBC hoped that this fort, situated at the mouth of the Churchill River with forty-two cannon and 40 foot thick walls, would provide refuge for the company ships in times of war with France. Prince of Wales Fort, however, was ultimately destroyed by the French after surrendering without firing a shot in 1782. The Fort was declared a National Historic Site in 1929 and reconstructed in the 1930s and 50s. A modern rehabilitation project was initiated by Parks Canada in the late 90s and continues today. Prince of Wales Fort tours are available from North Star Tours, Lazy Bear Lodge and Parks Canada.

More Information: www.pc.gc.ca

YORK FACTORY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

Situated 250 km southeast along the Hudson Bay coast. It is one of Canada’s most important historic sites. Access is available through Air Charter. Visitors may explore the unique depot building and the remnants of three centuries of life. Please contact the Parks Canada Visitor Center before planning to visit this site, as it is not always staffed.

More Information: www.pc.gc.ca

TOWN CENTRE COMPLEX

Opened in 1976, this expansive structure serves as a focus for many community activities. Whether it is for sports, to visit the well stocked library, watch a hockey game or just gaze in comfort at a raging Hudson Bay storm, the Centre draws people from Churchill and afar. The Centre includes the municipal offices for The Town of Churchill, Natural Resources office, The Churchill Regional Health Authority, Duke of Marlborough School, as well as a curling rink, arena, swimming pool, cafeteria and theatre.

CHURCHILL ROCKET RESEARCH RANGE

The Churchill Research Range (CRR) was established in 1957, the International Geophysical Year, to launch sounding rockets carrying experimental payloads into the upper atmosphere. It was operated by various agencies, launching over 3,500 rockets by the time it was closed in 1985. The Canadian Space Agency operated the range in 1989 for a series of NASA launches. In 1994, Akjuit Aerospace signed a 30 lease with the Manitoba Government for the former CRR and the surrounding area totaling 80 square kilometers. Over the summer of 994, Akjuit restored the Sounding Rocket facilities to operational levels, renaming the site Space Port  Canada. Akjuit then proceeded to add launch facilities for much larger rockets. Akjuit ceased to pursue this dream in June of 1998.