Kings Landing Historical Settlement facts for kids
Kings Landing is a special museum in New Brunswick, Canada, where you can step back in time! It's called a "living history museum" because it has real buildings from the years 1820 to 1920. These buildings were saved and moved here when a big lake, called a headpond, was made for the Mactaquac Dam.
Even though Kings Landing looks like an old village, it was never a real town. It's a collection of buildings that show what life was like in rural New Brunswick during the 1800s and early 1900s. Many of the first settlers in this area were Loyalists from the United States, who were loyal to Britain during the American Revolution. People from Scotland, Ireland, and England also came to live here. Kings Landing is about 40 kilometers west of Fredericton, New Brunswick, in a place called Lower Prince William.
The museum is always growing, with new old buildings being added every few years. It's a great way to see how people lived, worked, and played long ago!
Exploring Kings Landing
When you visit Kings Landing, you'll find more than a dozen old houses, most of which are original buildings. Inside these homes, friendly staff members dress up in old-fashioned clothes from the time period. They do daily chores, cook meals from the past, and create crafts just like people used to. It's like watching history come alive!
What You'll See
Besides houses, there are also "trades" buildings. These are like the shops and businesses that men in the village would have owned. Many of these jobs, like being a printer or a blacksmith, needed special training. You can see places like the Print Shop, the Blacksmith Shop, and the Carpenter Shop.
Because it's a living museum, these buildings are kept working. Sometimes, skilled workers even make goods and offer services for other parts of the village or to sell in the shops. Kings Landing also has barns with farm animals like chickens, geese, horses, and oxen. These animals aren't just for show; they help out! The chickens lay eggs, the cows give milk, and the horses pull wagons to help visitors get around the village.
Here are some of the places you can explore at Kings Landing:
- Welcome Centre
- Children's Play Park
- Heritage Gallery
- Summer Stage
- C.B. Ross Factory Gallery & Workshop
- Gordon Gallery
- The Hagerman House
- The Joslin Farm
- The Jones Farm
- Sawmill
- Gristmill
- King's Head Inn Restaurant & Pub
- The Lint House
- The Blacksmith
- Ox Barn
- The Long House
- St. Mark's Church (Anglican)
- Carpenter Shop
- The Heustis House
- The Fisher House
- The Donaldson House
- The Ingraham House
- The Morehouse Farm
- The Grant Store
- The Perley House
- Parish School
- The Peddler's Market (Gift Shop)
- The Killeen Cabin
- Riverside Presbyterian Church
- The Print Shop
- Axe and Plough Café
Fun Events
Kings Landing often hosts "Special Events" on certain weekends. These events often recreate important moments from New Brunswick's history. For example, around July 1st, you might see actors playing Charles Fisher and William Needham debating about Canada becoming a country. Visitors can even join in by asking questions and giving their opinions!
Learn New Skills
Kings Landing also offers workshops during its open hours. In these workshops, you can learn about different tasks and crafts from the 19th century. Imagine learning how to make candles, keep bees, or even do woodworking! It's a hands-on way to experience history.
Kings Landing History
The idea for Kings Landing started in 1967. The government wanted to save important cultural things that would be lost when the Mactaquac Dam was built. So, they decided to create a living museum.
Kings Landing first opened its doors to the public in 1971, and it officially opened on July 20, 1974. In 1976, Elizabeth II and Prince Philip even visited the site!
