Avondale Railway Museum
The Town of Avondale The Avondale Railway Museum has been developed to display artifacts from the Avondale train station, the oldest train station in Newfoundland. With the closure of Newfoundland’s railway in the 1980’s, the Avondale Railway Station was shut down. The building itself, over 100 years old, has since been declared a Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Avondale Railway Station was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1988.
Baccalieu Trail Region
Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation The Baccalieu Trail Region of Newfoundland and Labrador consists of approximately 70 communities stretched out along 240 km (150 miles) of coastline on a peninsula that forms the north side of Conception Bay and the south side of Trinity Bay on Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula. It is a region with a long and a rich history and heritage. Some of the oldest European settlements in North America were established here including Cupids, established in 1610; the Bristol’s Hope Plantation established at Harbour Grace by 1618; and Carbonear settled by at least 1631. Archaeological research conducted in the region over the past ten years is also revealing a rich history of aboriginal occupation extending back over 4000 years. Since 1994 the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation (BTHC) founded by Ron Merkle has been conducting an ongoing program of archaeological survey, excavation and interpretation in the region. In that time the BTHC’s archaeological crew has discovered and conducted excavations at a number of important sites.
Bay de Verde Heritage House
Heritage Bay de Verde, Town of Bay de Verde The Bay de Verde Heritage House was built in 1896 by Mr. John Blundon and family of Bay de Verde. Mr. Blundon was a local merchant who owned schooners and traded along the coast. The house was built to accommodate his lifestyle. The structure of the house is a good example of Merchant Class Victorian housing built on a gable-ell plan with a five sided front porch and fine interior and exterior detailing. It was built in two sections. The main section with its larger rooms, higher ceilings and more elaborate staircase was occupied by the Blundon family. The servants quarters with its smaller rooms, lower ceilings and smaller staircase was occupied by both male and female servants, shipped men, sharemen and sailors. The servant girl’s bedroom is still intact. The house was donated by Mrs. Dorothy Blundon and family to the Town of Bay de Verde on September 16, 1996 (exactly 100 years after it was constructed) and was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1997.
Beckett Heritage House
The Old Perlican Heritage Committee The Beckett Heritage Property depicts a typical fisherman’s home during the early 1900’s with its popular mansard roof. The property includes a root cellar, well, small barn, hen house, and associated vegetable garden. The wood house, stable, and hen’s pen were modified but its present form still reminds us of fisherman’s self-sufficient lifestyle in this area. The home has a kitchen, pantry, parlor, and bedroom restored and furnished as it was in 1902. The rest of the rooms are used as a Veterans Gallery, a Fishermans Gallery, and two rooms to display general artifacts. The building was designated as a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador on September 15th, 2001, and was restored in the summer of 2002. Make sure to visit Fisherman’s Store & Flake Museum while you’re in the area.
Carbonear Railway Station
Carbonear Heritage Society Today the former Carbonear Railway Station is home to a small exhibit of Newfoundland and Canadian railway memorabilia. It also houses the Carbonear island exhibit: “Traces of the Past”. The Railway Station has been designated an historic structure by The Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada, The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Municipality of Carbonear. With its narrow wooden clapboard and window and door placement, this one storey building is representative of the medium-sized, full service, non-residential type of branch line stations in Newfoundland. It is a rare surviving example of the smaller Reid Newfoundland Company railway stations. The Old Carbonear Post Office is another site managed by the Carbonear Heritage Society and is located at 182 Water Street in Carbonear.
Colony of Avalon
Step back in time at the Colony of Avalon, settled in 1621 by Lord Baltimore. Admission includes archaeological dig site, Interpretation Centre, 17th-century gardens and Kitchen, conservation lab and award-winning gift shop. Experience Archaeologist for a Day hands-on packages. Nearby attractions and services include Lighthouse Picnics, Tetley Tea Room, dinner theatre, historic Ferryland, East Coast Trail, whale and bird tours, and sea kayaking. An unforgettable experience. Active archaeological dig of Lord Baltimore’s Colony of Avalon dating to 1621, Interpretation Centre featuring a selection of the over 2 million artifacts found to date, guided tours, heritage gardens including Gentleman’s, Herb and Vegetable, 17th-century reproduction Kitchen featuring costumed interpreters, fully-equipped conservation laboratory, an award-winning on-site gift shop featuring NL artisans and artifact reproductions. Archaeologist for Day packages and group tours available.
Conception Bay Museum
The museum is located in the former 1870 Customs Building. The first floor consists of exhibits showcasing the inshore Conception Bay fishery from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, complete with fishery implements and tools, and an exhibit concerning the Peter Easton, a seventeenth-century pirate who was based out of this area. Located on the second floor, is an extensive aviation exhibit, complete with aircraft models and photos of famous aviators who visited the community including Amelia Earhart, Wiley Post, and Charles Lindburgh. The exhibit also includes a selection of aircraft equipment such as a flare gun, and a logbook, which was used on trans-Atlantic flights. The floor also has a period-setting room, housing various furniture pieces from the Presentation Convent of 1853. On the third floor, photographs depicting the history of Harbour Grace, including photos of the Water Street fires of the late nineteenth century and 1944. Occupational tools and implements are also displayed relating to coopering, carpentry, fishery, mercantile, sealing, and whaling. In addition, vintage broadcasting equipment used in the community is displayed. Domestic themes are also represented, including various wedding dresses from the mid 19th and early 20th centuries. The Customs House was designated a municipal heritage site by the Town of Harbour Grace.
Cupids Legacy Centre
Cupids Legacy Inc. Cupids is the site of Canada’s first English settlement—and that’s where the exhibits in our museum begin. Visitors are invited to follow our story through four centuries of evolving culture, struggle and achievement, told through multi-media, interactive and colourful displays—or through entertaining guided tours by knowledgeable staff. Exhibit highlights also include some of the more than 180,000 artifacts uncovered to date during painstaking archaeological work at the Cupids Cove Plantation Site, just a five-minute walk from the Legacy Centre and the site of the original Guy colony, founded 1610.
Arnold’s Cove Drake House Museum
Arnold’s Cove Heritage Foundation The Drake House Museum is a project of the Arnold’s Cove Heritage Foundation. The house was constructed in the 1890s in the community of Haystack, Placentia Bay by George Drake and his brother John. Frank Drake, George’s son, inherited the property and lived in the building all his life. Frank Drake passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2002, six months short of his 90th birthday. Frank was a very special person, and his passing is the end of an era. He firmly resisted the resettlement program, calling it the `shiftin racket’ and decided in 1957, when all other families had left the community, that he would hang on there by himself. That he did until November, 1969, when he had his house towed across the bay to Arnold’s Cove. The Drake House was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2003.
Fishermen’s Museum and Porter House
Port De Grave Peninsula Heritage Society Inc. The Fishermen’s Museum was started in 1969 by artist George Noseworthy and a group of local residents who saw the need to preserve and promote the local fishing heritage that was so rapidly changing. A few years later, nearby Porter house was acquired and restored. An adjacent one-room schoolhouse, leased from the Anglican church, has also been restored. The Porter House is furnished much as it was when it was built and is a typical fisherman’s home of that period. Artifacts include fishing equipment, tools, kitchen utensils, and models of various types of boats used in the inshore fishery. Special events at the Museum include slide presentations of old scenes of Port-de-Grave, demonstrations of carding and spinning wool, matting and net-making. The Porter House has been designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Fishing for Success
Fishing For Success (F4S) is a volunteer-based nonprofit social enterprise museum located in Petty Harbour that works to transmit the intangible cultural heritage of Newfoundland & Labrador’s family fishery. The museum advocates for an inclusive, gender-equitable & sustainable small-scale fishery that can help combat climate change and contribute to food sovereignty through better local seafood access. Fishing For Success provides free or reduced-cost programming for women, children, youth, newcomers, and Indigenous community members by partnering with other like-minded nonprofits and museums. Island Rooms is a historic fishing property in the community of Petty Harbour-Maddox Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador. It is the home of Fishing For Success and folks are invited to join in seasonal activities at this participatory museum. The focus is traditional fishing & cooking, stage construction, small boat skills, ropework, inspiring art & craft & music, hiking & snowshoeing in pursuit of berries or bird watching! And telling stories as you go… “One day every child in Newfoundland and Labrador will once again be taught the traditional fishing knowledge and skill of their ancestors; that this will instill in them a sense of pride, of place, and a longing to protect and conserve their natural home.” Join Fishing For Success in the adventure of reconnecting the child in all of us with the shared human heritage of fishing. 2022 Nature Inspiration Award for Community Action presented by the Canadian Museum of Nature
Flambro Head Museum & Café
Flambro Head Heritage Society Inc. The museum has displays, artifacts, photos, tools and implements depicting the early lifestyles of the area. They serve snacks and specials in their café.
Fox Harbour Museum
Fox Harbour Community Museum Corporation Located on the eastern shore of Placentia Bay, the museum showcases the the community’s 300-year old heritage. The community was first settled by European fishers in the late eighteenth century to take advantage of the nearby fishing grounds in Placentia Bay and off the Cape of St. Mary’s. Exhibits at the institution include the American military presence at the Argentia naval base from 1941 to 1994, complete with photos of soldiers and activities on the base and various artifacts. Domestic themes are also featured, consisting of various dishwares, canvas and hooked mats, wedding dresses, and other household items from the early twentieth century. Maritime history is also featured including the Annie Haley, a fishing schooner from the community that went down with seven men in 1927 just outside the harbour. Other exhibits showcase education, the presence of Catholicism in the community, and sports history.
Harbour Grace Board of Culture, Innovation and Business Inc.
Harbour Grace Board of Culture, Innovation and Business Inc. The Harbour Grace Board of Culture, Innovation and Business Inc. (HGCIB) is a non-profit corporation seeking to promote and revitalize Harbour Grace’s heritage, culture and natural assets for the purposes of tourism and economic development. The HGCIB was formed in early 2019 as an outcome of Heritage NL’s People, Places and Culture Workshop with the Town of Harbour Grace. The final report of this workshop recommended the community form an effective development organization, with Council representation through liaisons, which could plan, develop and manage projects for the betterment of the community. As a result, in early 2019, the Town published an expression of interest for volunteers willing to serve on such a committee. In April 2019, the HGCIB incorporated with the mandate to inventory Harbour Grace’s historical assets, both tangible and intangible, and create a broad tourism plan to develop said assets. Since the COVID interruption of 2020, the board has continued its projects such as the Oral Histories of Harbour Grace, Production of The Remarkable Story of Harbour Grace, Pirates to Pilots Festival and a number of other projects under development. Mailing Address: Harbour Grace Board of Culture, Innovation and Business Inc.P. O. Box 549Harbour Grace, NLA0A-2M0
Hefford Plantation Artifacts
Hefford Plantation Artifacts is sponsored by Heritage New Perlican, as well as the Baccalieu Trail Heritage Corporation. Self-guided tour of the best artifacts from the Hefford Plantation dig in the early 2000’s. Self-guided wall panels take you through each glass display unit housed in the Town’s Boardroom. Hefford Plantation has been designated a municipal heritage site by the Town of New Perlican.
Heritage Committee of Witless Bay
Town of Witless Bay The Heritage Committee of Witless Bay was formed in 2004 and now consists of 13 full time members and is very active in the town. One of the committee’s main projects is promoting the book “Bygone Days of Witless Bay” which won the Manning Award in 2021. The Heritage Committee of Witless Bay helps maintain and improve the old cemetery which is designated a heritage site. In May 2023, the committee hosted an event at the former convent in which 19 Presentation Sisters attended. The convent, a provincial heritage site, is also one of Canada’s Historic Sites. Other committee’s projects include a rug hooking group, an active Facebook page, participation in all community events, interviewing community members, and an annual Remembrance Day ceremony that involves placing of flags on veterans’ grave sites. The committee has also erected story boards depicting the history of the community.
Historic Ferryland Museum
Ferryland Historical Society Built in 1916, to serve as The Bank Of Montreal, the building was soon converted to a Courthouse and residence for the Newfoundland Constabulary. In the early 1950s, the building was converted to a Doctors clinic and residence and served in this capacity until 1969. In 1973, the Government conveyed the building to the Ferryland Historical Society to be used as a community Museum. Opened in 1974, the Museum is the oldest operating tourist attraction on the Irish Loop. In 2000, after receiving money through the FRAM program, the building was stabilized, new exhibits added, and the courtroom recreated. The Society then turned the building over to the Town of Ferryland, and an agreement was made that the Town become the owners, and the Ferryland Historical Society the operators. The Museum has served Ferryland and area since 1974. Presently, the Town of Ferryland is in the process of renovating the building. The Ferryland Historical Society continue to research, preserve, protect, promote, and share the history, heritage, and genealogy of Ferryland and surrounding area, from the office of the curator (until renovations on the building are complete). Ferryland Courthouse was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2006. PLEASE NOTE: During the 2023-2024 season, the museum building is undergoing renovations and will be avaiable for viewing by appointment only.
Holyrood Heritage Society Museum, Art Gallery and Gift Shop
Holyrood Heritage Society Inc. The Holyrood Heritage Society Inc. came into being in 2003 as an initiative of the Holyrood Town Council, and received its Certificate of Incorporation 50166 on August 25, 2004. The Holyrood Heritage Society’s By-Laws and mandate clearly identify how they operate as a non-profit charitable corporation: • To provide for, promote and assist in the establishment, development, and protection of cultural, heritage and historical sites in and around the Town of Holyrood, in the Province of NL. • To lobby the public and the Government to support the development and preservation of culturally and historically significant sites. • To build, purchase, lease or otherwise acquire property, both real and personal of a cultural or historical significance which will promote and protect the history of the Town. • To preservice historical structures.
Kent Cottage, at Landfall
Landfall Trust Inc. Kent Cottage is over 200 years old, and represents an excellent example of a period cottage in rural Newfoundland. It retains many of the original features. It is set in 11 acres of the natural environment. It was originally owned by the Pomeroy family, and was later occupied by notable American artist Rockwell Kent, and Newfoundland artist A. E. Harris. On the death of the last owner, Jake Folensbee, Kent Cottage passed to the Landfall Trust, who chose to preserve it by offering artist residencies for writers, musicians and visual artists in partnership with other arts organizations. Craft and cultural workshops are also offered at the site. Kent Cottage has been designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Manuels River Hibernia Interpretation Centre
Discover all that Manuels River has to offer! Walking Trails, Exhibit & Fossil Site Tours, Events Centre, Tourist Information, Wedding Venue, Movie Theatre, Cafe, Education Programs & More!
Mistaken Point Interpretive Centre
Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc. The Mistaken Point Interpretive Centre is the starting point for your explorations at the edge of Avalon. Come in to visit and view a detailed interpretive map of the area, receive directions for hiking trails, and check out the bulletin board for special events and wildlife sightings. Friendly staff interpreters are always ready to answer your questions and help you plan your day with up-to-date information and advice. Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve and UNESCO Heritage Site contains the oldest and largest known fossils of complex, multicellular organisms from 579-560 million years ago. Tour is 3-4 hours and includes a 6 km return hike to the fossil site. Access to the fossil site is by guided tour only, and all visitors must begin their tour at the Mistaken Point Interpretive Centre. Built over 100 years ago, the Cape Race Lighthouse is a towering and impressive giant. A technological feat of its day, it’s one of the last hyper-radial Fresnel lens lighthouses in the world. Still operational, the lighthouse is tended for 28 day shifts year-round by Light Keepers who make it their home – hear stories of shipwrecks, local history, and experience authentic Newfoundland culture. The Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre immerses visitors in the earliest days of wireless communication and telegraphy in Newfoundland, when Cape Race was one of the busiest Marconi stations in North America. It is named for the Myrick family who lived and worked at Cape Race from 1874 until 2007, serving as light keepers, fog alarm operators, telegraphers and wireless operators. Knowledgeable guides help bring history to life as they share the remarkable moments that once happened there in electric detail. One of the most memorable moments in marine history, the sinking of the RMS Titanic has a direct link to the history of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Marconi station at Cape Race was the first land station to answer Titanic’s distress call, helping to coordinate the rescue effort for survivors of the fateful voyage.
Mizzen Heritage Museum
Heart’s Content Mizzen Heritage Society Housed in the Mizzen Hall, the Mizzen Heritage Society produces various exhibits every summer which aim to educate and promote the heritage of the community. The Society’s collection consists of artifacts and archival materials which outline the community’s early occupational heritage, including the seal, inshore cod and Labrador fisheries, and the ship building industry of the late 1700’s. Domestic artifacts are also exhibited, as well as artifacts relating to the Mizzen Society’s history, including musical instruments and swords. The museum also provides visitors with a walking tour of the community.
Old Carbonear Post Office
Carbonear Heritage Society The Old Carbonear Post office is considered to be one of the finest and best preserved example of the Second Empire construction style. The Post Office was built in 1905 to replace a larger one that burned down in 1904. Over the years the building served as a post office, customs house, welfare office, a bank, telegraph office, craft shop and artist’s studio. It now home to the Carbonear Heritage Society office and archive.The building also houses the “Tryphonea Nicholl” exhibit and The “Going Foreign“ exhibit, along with a small display of Carbonear artifacts. The building was registered as a heritage structure in 1988 by the Newfoundland and Labrador Heritage Foundation. It is characterized by a Mansard roof with dormers and a distinctive clock tower. It also has classic elements such as eave brackets and heavy wood moldings on all windows. The Carbonear Railway Station is another site managed by the Carbonear Heritage Society and is located at 256 Water Street in Carbonear.
O’Reilly House Museum
Placentia Area Historical Society The O’Reilly House was built in 1902 as a residence for William O’Reilly. In the 1940s, it became a government-owned residence for the local magistrate, and filled that role until 1984. In 1986, it was turned over to the Placentia Area Historical Society for development as an area museum. As a museum the O’Reilly House reflects over 450 years of a diverse history for the Placentia Area. Displays tell of the role that the Basque, French, English, Irish and Americans played in that history. Apart from period furniture and an old style kitchen to remind us of the early days of the house there are many photographic displays to help us recall earlier periods. There is a special exhibit of the resettlement of Placentia Bay and items related to notable citizens. Models of former community buildings and many artefacts further enhance the story. See such things as a tipstaff presented by King George III in 1772, a silver tea set used by Prince William Henry while visiting Placentia in 1786, and a Basque Will that is the oldest original civil document from Canada. O’Reilly House was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1999.
Petty Harbour/Maddox Cove Heritage Museum
The Town of Petty Harbour/Maddox Cove The Petty Harbour Museum is located in the Town of Petty Harbour/Maddox Cove, just 15 minutes from downtown St. Johns. The museum is situated in the basement of the old school, which is now the Community Center and Town Office. “Many Stories in Tiny Houses” is a comment a student from China wrote after his visit. The museum tells the stories of the people in the fishery, military and many walks of life. It includes fisherpersons, teachers, clergy, and even the local cobbler, cooper and midwife. Check out the museum’s artifacts like the “Barbel”, which keeps you dry. See the rifle that “Shot the Polar Bear” and hear the poem that was written about the adventure.
Road to Yesterday Museum & Christopher Pratt Art Gallery
Bay Roberts Heritage Society Inc. The Western Union Cable Station, now known as the Cable Building, was constructed in 1913, extended in 1927, and was in continuous operation as a repeater station until 1965. For a brief period it was used by the School Board and then abandoned for over 20 years. In an effort to save it from demolition, the Bay Roberts Heritage Society acquired the building in 1996 and in 1997-99 completely restored it to house the Road To Yesterday Museum, the Christopher Pratt Gallery, and the Town Municipal offices. The Society received several awards for both the quality of restoration and the Museum. The building is now a Municipal, Provincial, and National Historic Structure. The theme of the Museum is the commercial development of the Town at the turn of the 20th century. It also has a Cable operation display, a dedicated Military display, a record of cemetery inscriptions, an archive, reproduced historic photographs, and an extensive collection of pottery artifacts recovered from Bay Roberts Harbour.
St. Vincent’s Fishermen’s Museum and Memorial Garden
St. Vincent’s Fisherman’s Museum Committee Inc. The Fishermen’s Museum in St. Vincent’s was first was established in 1995 in the restored home of a local fisherman. It is now located in an old convent behind the church on the main road of the community. Throughout all the displays in the various rooms, the treasures of a way of life almost lost are revealed. Take a journey down memory lane and witness the culture and heritage of a proud and hardworking people. People with strong connections to the sea and the land anxious to showcase their legacy to both descendants and visitors alike. The Museum is located on route 90 of The Irish Loop Drive on the southern Avalon Peninsula. It is approximately a forty five minute drive from Mistaken Point Fossil Site which is seeking UNESCO designation for the oldest Precambrian one celled fossils in the world! Other attractions along the route to the Museum in St. Vincent’s include The Ferryland Archeological site, Ferryland Lighthouse Picnics, Cape Race Lighthouse Titanic Connection and the historic Cape Pine Lighthouse near St. Shott’s and old Trepassey Town. Trepassey features a couple of eateries and a motel/restaurant. If you come the way of Salmonier Line, several sites include The Wilds Golf Course Restaurant and Hotel, the Salmonier Nature Park, Father Duffy’s Well Day Park, the replica of the resettled village of Oderin in St. Mary’s, as well as The Claddagh Inn and the Celtic Knot Pub and Restaurant. Then there’s the lovely Gulch Beach which features an antique “auto-weekend” midsummer each year. In the town of St. Vincent’s, St. Stephen’s Peter’s River, there is the Holyrood Pond Interpretation Centre which opens during the summer season and hosts a tea room and gift shop. Then almost situated right on the beach there is the cozy Whale Song B & B which is open year round to welcome guests. On top of Cemetery Road in St. Vincent’s there is a lookout which is a photographer’s paradise! The drive through several scenic communities on the way to the Fisherman’s Museum is one filled with the beauty of a rugged Newfoundland coastline, lots of little nooks and crannies, and very friendly welcoming people.
The John N. Leamon Museum: Ye Olde Stone Barn & Pinkston’s Forge
Brigus Historical & Conservation Society Co-located in the beautiful, historic town of Brigus. A single admission fee grants visitors access to both sites. The Olde Stone Barn Museum boasts an impressive collection of artifacts and models which showcase the local history. Visitors will find knowledgeable, friendly staff on site, as well as extensive genealogical records, Captain Bob Bartlett’s Pathé newsreels, and hundreds of artifacts dating back as far as the 15th century. Pinkston’s Forge is one of the very few operating forges in Newfoundland. Visitors are invited to watch as local blacksmith crafts small souvenir objects which are available for purchase. In 2014, the forge was moved to its current location next to The Stone Barn Museum. Originally constructed in 1889, the forge proudly displays artifacts and tools which were crafted and used by the original blacksmith. The Stone Barn was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1986.
Torbay History House & Museum
Town of Torbay The Torbay Museum’s mission is to engage both Torbay residents and visitors in an exploration of the Town’s rich heritage. This is accomplished through active programs, exhibitions, and sharing collations in the Museum’s historic property and throughout the community. The Museum believes that an understanding of our past, sparking new connections, can build a bright future for Torbay and Newfoundland.
Veterans’ Interpretation Centre
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #62 Interpretation centre provides information on Newfoundland veterans’ and their involvement in combat. Mailing Address:Royal Canadian Legion Branch #62PO Box 348St. Mary’s, NL A0B 3B0
Victoria Heritage Park
Victoria Heritage/Tourism Society The Victoria Heritage Park has a general store, salt box house, forge, water wheel, church, railway station, post office, bandstand, Newfoundland pony barn museum, Newfoundland ponies and other animals. The Country Church is available for other functions. 1500 ft. boardwalk surrounds the park. We have an archives and genealogy room at the Town Hall. A hydroelectric plant built in 1904 still operates on the site. This Heritage Park is built on the site of a World War II POW camp built in 1940 and dismantled in 1943.A children’s playground is located across the street.
Voices of Placentia Bay Exhibit
Voices of Placentia Bay is a collaborative project created by the Placentia Bay Historical Society, the Town of Placentia and the Research Centre for the Study of Music, Media and Place.Located next to the Placentia Arts Centre, this highly interactive, multimedia exhibition celebrates the singers and players, the storytellers and poets of the region. It is based on the work of the farsighted people who recorded and preserved these cultural treasures — leaving us with one one of the best examples of Intangible Cultural Heritage in the province and a tradition that both inspires and underpins contemporary music. In a space that is bright, lively and welcoming, visitors will get to know the people of Placentia Bay as their voices echo through the ages.
The Wesley Gosse Memorial United Church Heritage Building
Spaniard’s Bay Heritage Society The Municipality of Spaniard’s Bay Heritage Committee originally formed in 1996 under the chairmanship of Mr. Ed Neil. At that time, the group completed the Johnson Foundation history board project. The board is located at Veteran’s Memorial Park and provides information about the history of Spaniard’s Bay. Now known as the Spaniard’s Bay Heritage Society, the group reformed in 2005 under the leadership of Mr. Wesley Gosse. It is now a member of the Museum Association of Newfoundland and Labrador and of the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Wesley Gosse Memorial United Church Heritage Building has been named to acknowledge the valuable contributions Mr. Wesley Gosse (1935-2009) made to the community of Spaniard’s Bay. Mr. Gosse’s municipal, teaching, religious, sports, military, Royal Canadian Legion, and Heritage Society accomplishments are many. Within these organizations he held various administrative and executive positions, as well as being a founding member of several. Mr. Gosse’s memories of growing up in Spaniard’s Bay were often published in the local newspaper. He founded and worked tirelessly on behalf of the Municipality of Spaniard’s Bay Heritage Society. The preservation of this building and its use as a museum are a result of his foresight and effort. In 2007 the building was designated a Registered Heritage Structure by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. The Society’s mandate is to research, collect, record, and interpret all items of historical relevance to the municipality of Spaniard’s Bay. These are displayed in the church for visitors to view and reminisce. Each summer students are hired as interpreters and are available to answer questions and have a chat. The Society also hosts Sunday by the Sea, a weekly event with musical entertainment provided by local musicians. Each August, on the last day of Lassy Days, a Garden Party is held on our heritage building grounds. Several other events are planned throughout the summer. Community members and visitors are always invited to attend.
Whitbourne Heritage Museum
Whitbourne Heritage Society Inc. The Whitbourne Museum is housed in the old Whitbourne Railway Station. Sir Robert Bond, Prime Minister of Newfoundland from 1900-1909, built his home, “The Grange,” in Whitbourne. The Museum holds a large collection of photographs and artifacts relating to Bond and his estate. Notable pieces include a pool table with accoutrements, a writing table and numerous other smaller artifacts which reveal Bond’s Whitbourne connection. Other artifacts relate to the Newfoundland Ranger Force, which had its headquarters in Whitbourne, and also the Railway and local community history. The Museum also offers an outstanding 13-volume reference set, including videos and written history, which are available for viewing and provide in-depth information on the history of the town. Other local attractions include the Sir Robert Bond Park, featuring a rare lichen forest, as well as the Constable Robert Amy monument located next to the local war memorial. Visitors may also see the burial site of Sir Robert Bond in the local Anglican cemetery. Those interested in medical history may also visit the Markland Cottage Hospital, which now houses the province’s first winery and has recently been declared a Registered Heritage Structure, just a short driving distance from the museum.
Willow Tree Heritage Museum, Cemetery and Historic Fishing Premises
Willow Tree Heritage Society Inc. The Willow Tree Heritage Society operates the Willow Tree Museum, the Willow Tree Cemetery, and the Registered Historical Fishing Premises in the town of Hant’s Harbour, Trinity Bay—a town with a history dating back to the migratory fishery of the early 17th century.
Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador
Come visit the Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador – a place where the history and traditions of wooden boat building come to life! The museum is located on the Avalon Peninsula, in Winterton, Newfoundland and Labrador. The first floor of the museum incorporates a new provincial exhibit, which tells the story of the humble wooden boat and its contribution to the economy and way of life in this Province. Accompanying the story are various full sized boats and models that show the many types of boats which have shaped Newfoundland and Labrador’s history. In addition artifacts which reflect traditional fishing methods and the province’s maritime history can be seen throughout the Museum. The boat building room houses the many traditional boat building tools and a boat which under construction. Also on the first floor take time to view our Indeavour Exhibit which details the 1612 voyage taken by John Guy (Newfoundland’s first Governor) to meet and trade with the Beothuck in Trinity Bay. In the Boat Shed take a step back in time. The smell of wood shavings fills the air. Here boats are built, like they used to be, with tools from the past, hand cut timber, and oakum. Talk with the onsite boat builder or a friendly staff member, who are always happy to answer your questions. The upstairs of the Museum showcases life in a fishing community. Here you will learn the stories of what it was like to grow up, live and work in one of Newfoundland’s fishing communities. Displays focus on agriculture, coopering, hunting, school life, and domestic life in an outport community. Our Museum also hosts numerous events and workshops. With the guide of a seasoned instructor, workshop participants learn the fundamentals of building traditional wooden boats. Visiting Artists Program highlights local artists as they demonstrate their talents – wood carving, painting, rug hooking and more! For more information, check out the website for a schedule of events, visiting artists and workshops. The Museum doesn’t end at the doors. While in the area, be sure to take in the Heritage Walking Trail. Enjoy local heritage buildings, historic fishing stages, the natural landscape, and nature.