Kings County Museum (Hampton, New Brunswick) facts for kids
The Kings County Museum is a cool place in Hampton, New Brunswick. It helps us learn about the past of Kings County. The museum is run by the Kings County Historical and Archival Society. You can find it in the Centennial Building, and it also has displays in the old Kings County jail right next door.
The museum officially opened its doors on June 1, 1968. This was part of the Canadian Centennial celebrations. It was a special agreement between the Kings County Historical Society and the local government. They wanted a place to show off the history of Kings County.
The museum is home to many old and interesting items. These are called artifacts. They all have unique stories about Kings County's past. The main exhibit room gets new displays every two years. This means there's always something new to see!
The museum has been open for over 50 years. It has collected a huge number of artifacts during this time. You can visit the museum in the summer. It is also open for certain hours in the winter. You can take tours of the exhibits and the old jail. The museum also has many books about Kings County history for sale. Plus, they can help you research your family's history.
The Old County Jail
The old Kings County jail is a very interesting part of the museum. It was first built in 1840. Back then, it was located in Kingston. In 1871, Hampton became the main town, or "shire-town," for Kings County. So, the jail had to move!
Workers carefully took apart the jail's granite blocks. Then, oxen and horses hauled each piece from Kingston to Hampton. They traveled over roads and even across the ice of the Kennebecasis River. The jail was then rebuilt exactly where it stands today. It was used as a jail until 1971.
Today, the town of Hampton owns the building. But it is a big part of the Kings County Museum. Some of the jail cells still look like they did long ago. Other cells have been turned into special themed rooms. These rooms show off some of the museum's 18,000 artifacts.
The jailer and his family used to live right next door. Their home was connected to the jail by a doorway. This space is now 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 share the interesting past of Kings County. This group has been a non-profit organization for over 50 years.
The members of the society do many important things. They record and protect the heritage of Kings County. They do this by collecting artifacts. They also do a lot of research. They keep records of family histories and the stories of different places in Kings County.
