Kennet and Avon Canal Museum facts for kids
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| Location | Devizes, Wiltshire, England |
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The Kennet and Avon Canal Museum is a fun place to learn about the history of the Kennet and Avon Canal. It is located in Devizes, a town in Wiltshire, England. This museum tells the story of how the canal was built and used.
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Discovering the Kennet and Avon Canal Museum
The museum is in a special old building. It used to be a warehouse where goods were stored. Imagine, it once held wine brought all the way from Bristol Harbour by boat! This historic building is about one mile from the famous Caen Hill Flight of locks.
Who Runs the Museum?
The museum is looked after by the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust. This group also has its main office and a shop inside the same building. They work hard to keep the canal's history alive for everyone.
What Can You See Inside?
Inside the museum, you will find many interesting things. There are old papers, photographs, and items that tell the canal's story. You can see models of locks, which are like water elevators for boats. There are also models of narrowboats, the special boats used on the canal. You can even see tools that were traditionally decorated and used by boat workers long ago.
A Canal's Journey Through Time
The Kennet and Avon Canal was built a long time ago, between 1794 and 1810. It was a very important waterway for moving goods. However, it wasn't used much in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
But people didn't forget about it! The canal was later restored and brought back to life. It officially reopened in 1990. A very special visitor, Queen Elizabeth II, even signed the museum's guest book during the reopening.
See also
