photo of the Winnipeg Auditorium Building

Manitoba Archives Building

The Manitoba Archives Building was constructed in 1931-1932 to provide a cultural gathering place for the City of Winnipeg and its citizens. It opened in November 1932 as the Winnipeg Auditorium. The building was the city’s concert hall for almost 40 years and also housed the art gallery and the museum. In 1970, the Province of Manitoba purchased the building. The building underwent extensive renovations, with the main auditorium converted into four floors of vault space and the exhibition galleries into reference rooms. The Manitoba Archives Building is now home to the Archives of Manitoba, the Manitoba Legislative Library and Elections Manitoba.

Read more about the history of the Manitoba Archives Building:

photo of the construction of the Civic Auditorium building in 1932, with construction works excavating with ground, pick-up trucks filled with dirt, and work horses
Civic Auditorium construction, 1932
A of M, Winnipeg – Buildings – Municipal – Civic Auditorium 11, N5138
Photo of the interior of the main auditorium in 1933. There are three levels with many rows of empty seats.
Interior, main auditorium, 1933
A of M, Winnipeg – Buildings – Municipal – Civic Auditorium 13, N4365
Photo of the front entrance of the Civic Auditorium building in 1939. The building has detailed moulding, large columns, multiple doorways, and lights attached to the building.
Front entrance, 1939
A of M, Winnipeg – Buildings – Municipal – Civic Auditorium 15
Wide shot of the Winnipeg Civic Auditorium in 1956 with cars parked on the street.
Winnipeg Civic Auditorium, 1956
A of M, Winnipeg – Buildings – Municipal – Civic Auditorium 3, N4363