The museum recounts the stories of Elgin County residents (long or short term) from the War of 1812 to Afghanistan. Exhibits include models made by craftsmen and a collection of some 600 UN and NATO badges. Exhibits are not confined to the interior as the museum has two M113 armored personnel carriers[3] on permanent display outside.
Menagerie
The Elgin Military Museum has space dedicated to an elephant, Jumbo,[4] the largest elephant ever held in captivity. In 1985, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of his death, a life-size monument named "Jumbo the Elephant (Bronnum)" was installed near the museum. This was the beginning of the menagerie, which also includes kangaroo and dolphins.
HMCS Ojibwa
In 2012, The Elgin Military Museum acquired a former Oberon-class submarine, HMCS Ojibwa S72.[5] The submarine is the largest artefact in the collection. As the city of St. Thomas is landlocked, ex-Ojibwa is located in Port Burwell, Ontario on Lake Erie [6] The Elgin Military Museum was the recipient of both the provincial and national tourism awards for the tours at ex-Ojibwa within its first year of operation.
Vimy Ridge and The Vimy Poppy
A prominent artifact at the Elgin Military Museum is the Vimy Poppy, which was picked by a soldier from St. Thomas on Vimy Ridge a few weeks after the battle began on April 9, 1917, in memory of his fallen comrades. One of these soldiers was Lance Corporal Ellis Sifton who won the Victoria Cross that day but lost his life. The tiny box in which his effects were posted to his parents form part of a display in his honor.
