Butler Point Whaling Museum facts for kids
The Butler Point Whaling Museum is a cool place to visit in Hihi. It's close to Mangonui in New Zealand's Doubtless Bay. This area was a busy spot for whaling ships between the 1820s and 1850s.
The museum has a few interesting parts. There's a house built in the 1840s by an early settler named William Butler. You can also see an older house from the Church Missionary Society's Waimate Mission. Both houses are filled with furniture from their original time period. The museum also has a newer building dedicated to whaling history.
Contents
Exploring the Whaling Museum
Inside the whaling museum, you'll find amazing things. There's a fully restored whaling boat that looks ready to sail. You can also see a "tryworks," which was a special furnace used on whaling ships to melt whale blubber into oil.
Whaling Tools and Treasures
The museum displays many tools used by whalers. You can see different types of harpoons. There are also models of whaling ships and beautiful scrimshaw. Scrimshaw is artwork made by whalers, often carved into whalebone or teeth. You'll also find other items from the whalers who visited Doubtless Bay, including those from famous ships like the Charles W. Morgan.
Beautiful Gardens and Grounds
The museum is surrounded by large, lovely gardens. It's a great place to walk around and explore. One of the most famous features is a giant pohutukawa tree. This tree has a trunk that measures 10.9 meters around! Many people believe it's the biggest pohutukawa tree in the world. The people who own and look after the museum live right there on the grounds.
See also
- Whaling in New Zealand
