Seagram Museum
Encyclopedia
The Seagram Museum in Waterloo
, Ontario
, Canada
was the city's final operational remnant of the world-renowned distillery founded by Waterloo entrepreneur Joseph E. Seagram
in the mid-19th century.
The museum operated from May 1984 to March 1997. Designed by architect Barton Myers
, it was built at a cost of $4.75 million and its entrance was a renovated late-19th century rack warehouse from the Seagram plant. It had a variety of exhibits illustrating everyday life in the liquor distillery in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Seagram
closed its Waterloo plant in 1992, and the museum continued to operate for another five years. It narrowly escaped a fire in 1993 that destroyed the building next to it.
The City of Waterloo purchased the Seagram property for $4 million in the fall of 1997. The museum donated its archives to the University of Waterloo
. Two former barrelhouses on the site were converted into condominiums while the museum became an office building, leased to software company Waterloo Maple
. The company moved into the renovated building in June 1998.
In July 2002, the city sold the building to the Centre for International Governance Innovation
(CIGI) for $2.5 million. In September 2003, Waterloo Maple left the building and CIGI moved in. As of 2010 it also houses Project Ploughshares. The building is located at 57 Erb Street West in Waterloo.
, CHIN
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
.
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
was the city's final operational remnant of the world-renowned distillery founded by Waterloo entrepreneur Joseph E. Seagram
Joseph E. Seagram
Joseph Emm Seagram was a British Canadian distillery founder, politician, philanthropist, and major owner of thoroughbred racehorses....
in the mid-19th century.
The museum operated from May 1984 to March 1997. Designed by architect Barton Myers
Barton Myers
Barton Myers, FAIA is an American and Canadian architect and president of Barton Myers Associates, Inc. in Los Angeles, California....
, it was built at a cost of $4.75 million and its entrance was a renovated late-19th century rack warehouse from the Seagram plant. It had a variety of exhibits illustrating everyday life in the liquor distillery in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Seagram
Seagram
The Seagram Company Ltd. was a large corporation headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada that was the largest distiller of alcoholic beverages in the world. Toward the end of its independent existence it also controlled various entertainment and other business ventures...
closed its Waterloo plant in 1992, and the museum continued to operate for another five years. It narrowly escaped a fire in 1993 that destroyed the building next to it.
The City of Waterloo purchased the Seagram property for $4 million in the fall of 1997. The museum donated its archives to the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
. Two former barrelhouses on the site were converted into condominiums while the museum became an office building, leased to software company Waterloo Maple
Waterloo Maple
Waterloo Maple Inc. is a Canadian software company, headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario. It operates under the trading name Maplesoft and is best known as the manufacturer of the Maple computer algebra system and MapleSim physical modeling and simulation software.-Corporate history:Waterloo Maple Inc...
. The company moved into the renovated building in June 1998.
In July 2002, the city sold the building to the Centre for International Governance Innovation
Centre for International Governance Innovation
The Centre for International Governance Innovation is an independent, non-partisan think tank on global governance. Led by experienced practitioners and academics, CIGI supports research, forms networks, advances policy debate and generates ideas for multilateral governance improvements...
(CIGI) for $2.5 million. In September 2003, Waterloo Maple left the building and CIGI moved in. As of 2010 it also houses Project Ploughshares. The building is located at 57 Erb Street West in Waterloo.
Affiliations
The Museum was affiliated with: CMACanadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
, CHIN
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
, and Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada
The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...
.