Kings County Museum (Hampton, New Brunswick) facts for kids

The Kings County Museum is a cool place in Hampton, New Brunswick. It's run by the Kings County Historical and Archival Society. You can find it in the Centennial Building. There are also exhibits in the old Kings County jail right next door.

The museum officially opened on June 1, 1968. This happened after an agreement in 1966. The Kings County Historical Society, Kings County, and the New Brunswick Centennial Administration worked together. They wanted a museum space in the new County Centennial Building.

The museum has lots of old items and historical treasures. These items tell stories from Kings County's past. The main exhibit room changes every two years. This means there's always something new to see!

The museum has been open for over 50 years. It has collected many amazing artifacts. Each item has a special story about Kings County. You can visit the museum in the summer. It's also open for certain hours in the winter. You can take tours of the exhibits and the old jail.

The museum also has books and stories about local history for sale. They even help people research their family history. They have records of places and families from Kings County.

The Old County Jail

The old Kings County jail is a very interesting part of the museum. It was first built in 1840 in Kingston, New Brunswick. In 1871, Hampton became the main town for Kings County. So, the jail was moved!

Moving the Jail

Workers carefully took apart the granite blocks of the jail. Then, oxen and horses pulled these heavy blocks. They moved them piece by piece from Kingston to Hampton. They traveled over roads and even across the frozen Kennebecasis River. The jail was then rebuilt exactly where it stands today.

Jail's History and Use

The jail was used until 1971. Now, the town of Hampton owns the building. But it's a big part of the Kings County Museum. Some of the jail cells still look like they did long ago. Other cells are now special themed rooms. These rooms show off some of the museum's 18,000 artifacts.

The jailer and their family used to live right next door. Their home was connected to the jail by a doorway. Today, that space is used as the Hampton community library.

Kings County Historical Society

The Kings County Historical and Archival Society is a group dedicated to history. They work hard to save and explain Kings County's interesting past. This group has been a non-profit organization for over 50 years.

What the Society Does

The members of the society record and protect Kings County's heritage. They do this by collecting artifacts. They also do a lot of research. They help people with family history (genealogy) and record the stories of different places.