Kings County Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1981 |
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| Location | 37 Cornwallis Street, Kentville, Nova Scotia |
| Type | Municipal Museum |
The Kings County Museum is a special place in Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada. It's a museum that helps people learn about the history of Kings County, Nova Scotia. The museum is located inside a beautiful old building that used to be the Kings County Courthouse, built in 1903.
At the museum, you can see many different exhibits. Some exhibits are always there, showing important parts of the county's past. Other exhibits change regularly, so there's always something new to discover. The museum also hosts a special exhibit from Parks Canada about the New England Planters. These were early settlers who came to Nova Scotia.
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The Historic Courthouse Building
The building where the Kings County Museum is today was built in 1903. It replaced an older wooden courthouse from 1850. That old building was so worn out that it ended up being used to store apples!
The new courthouse was designed by a builder and architect named Leslie R. Fairn from Wolfville. It was a very important building because it held many different offices. It had courtrooms, offices for the county government, and a place to keep land records. It also had offices for important officials like the treasurer and sheriff.
The courthouse was built to be very strong and safe. It had special fireproof vaults built into its walls. People said these vaults were "the best in the province" at the time. The building cost $20,000 to build. It was made from bricks and decorative pressed bricks from Avonport, Kings County. The sandstone used came from nearby Cumberland County.
The new courthouse officially opened on January 12, 1904. The first meeting of the Kings County Council happened in the new building on that day. The building served as a courthouse for many years. Trials were held there until 1980. After that, a new, modern building was built in Kentville for courts and county offices.
The Museum's Journey
The Kings Historical Society was started in 1978. This group is a non-profit organization. They are the ones who own and run the Kings County Museum. When the old courthouse closed in 1980, the society worked hard to save it. They didn't want it to be torn down. Instead, they wanted to restore it and turn it into a museum for the county.
The society raised a lot of money for the project. They collected $64,000 for restoration work and another $15,000 for repairs that had been ignored. The museum officially opened to the public on May 27, 1981. It was called the "Old Kings Courthouse Museum" back then. The opening was timed to happen during the Apple Blossom Festival. The museum's first exhibit was about the history of this festival. It also showed how the Dominion Atlantic Railway helped bring tourists to Kentville.
One of the most amazing parts of the new museum was the courtroom. It had been beautifully restored. The walls had a special painted wood grain design. This was a "lost art" because not many people knew how to do it anymore. A local person named Brad Forsyth learned the technique from his father. He repainted and restored the room's wood panels. He even hid secret figures of birds and animals in the grain patterns!
At first, the society rented the courthouse from the county. But in 1993, they were able to buy the building. In 2002, the museum changed its name to the "Kings County Museum."
Research and Exhibits
In the basement of the courthouse, where old records used to be kept, a Family History Committee was formed. They built a large research center for people interested in family history. They successfully recorded and indexed every grave in Kings County. This helps people find information about their ancestors.
In 1989, Parks Canada chose the museum to host its National New England Planters Commemorative Exhibit permanently. This was a big honor for the museum. The museum has also hosted many changing exhibits. On average, they have six new exhibits every year, which is a lot for a local museum!
In 2004, the museum celebrated two big milestones. It was the 100th anniversary of the courthouse building. It was also the 25th anniversary of the Historical Society. To celebrate, they invited the current Kings County Council to re-enact the very first meeting held in the building on January 12, 1904.
Like many museums, the Kings County Museum has faced some challenges. In recent years, they have received less support from the government. Also, fewer tourists have been visiting rural Nova Scotia. Because of these challenges, the museum started closing during the winter months in 2006. However, the Kings Historical Society continues to offer historical programs and special events all year round. These events help raise money to keep the museum running.
Museum Collections
The museum has many interesting items in its collection. Here are a few examples:
- A sword that belonged to Captain William Bishop. He fought in the Battle off Cape Split during the American Revolution.
- The handcrafted desk of John Warren King, who was Kentville's first mayor.
Images for kids
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The Kings County Museum building.
