New Brunswick Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1842 |
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| Location | Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Type | provincial museum |
| Visitors | 32,584 (2017) |
The New Brunswick Museum in Saint John, New Brunswick, is Canada's oldest museum that is still open today. It officially became the "Provincial Museum" in 1929 and got its current name in 1930. However, its story actually began much earlier, way back in 1842, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Abraham Gesner.
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The Museum's Journey Through Time
On April 5, 1842, a scientist named Abraham Gesner opened the Museum of Natural History. This was the very first version of the New Brunswick Museum. It started in just one room at the Mechanics' Institute on Carleton Street in Saint John. Dr. Gesner hoped the museum would help him financially, but it didn't make enough money.
In 1843, his collection was given to his creditors. They then generously donated it to the Saint John Mechanics' Institute.
Early Days and New Names
In 1846, the museum was renamed the Mechanics' Institute Museum. A report from 1863 described it as having "a large and valuable collection of minerals." It also had many animal specimens and interesting items from China, India, and other places. Sea captains and travelers often added new and exciting things to the collection.
When the Mechanics' Institute closed in 1890, the Natural History Society of New Brunswick took over the collection. The museum moved first to the new Market Building. Then, in 1906, it moved to 72 Union Street.
Under the care of its curator and later director, Dr. William McIntosh, the museum's collections grew a lot. Dr. McIntosh was an entomologist, meaning he studied insects. The museum became so big that it needed a brand new building. In 1934, a new provincial museum building on Douglas Avenue was officially opened by Prime Minister R.B. Bennett.
Becoming a Provincial Treasure
By 1942, the museum's collections, building, and properties officially belonged to the people of New Brunswick. Today, the New Brunswick Museum is supported by the Province of New Brunswick. It continues to collect, protect, study, and display the natural and cultural history of the province.
Besides its amazing natural science collection, the museum also has one of the largest collections of 19th-century decorative arts. It also holds many items related to Canadian history and culture in the Atlantic provinces.
Growing and Changing Locations
By 1992, the museum had become too large for its Douglas Avenue home. Plans were made to create new exhibit spaces in a central location in Saint John. In April 1996, the New Brunswick Museum opened at Market Square. This new location in uptown Saint John offered three floors and about 60,000 square feet of exhibition space. It also hosted many public programs.
However, the Collections Centre, the Archives and Research Library, and the Head Office stayed at the Douglas Avenue location.
In 2017, the New Brunswick Liberal government announced plans for a new, single museum building in uptown Saint John. This new building would have brought together both the Douglas Avenue and Market Square facilities. However, in December 2018, a newly elected provincial government canceled this project to save money.
A New Chapter for the Museum
In July 2023, it was announced that the New Brunswick Museum would return to its original 1934 home on Douglas Avenue in Saint John. Officials shared that they would combine a new design with the nearly century-old building. The old facility would be upgraded and preserved. Diamond Schmitt Architects was chosen to design the new building.
In December 2023, the New Brunswick Museum announced it had found a new research and collections center on Saint John's west side. This was in preparation for starting construction in 2024 on its new main home on Douglas Avenue. This project is valued at about $150 million. Construction on the Douglas Avenue site began around August 2024.
Museum Connections
The New Brunswick Museum works with several important organizations. These include the Canadian Museums Association, the Canadian Heritage Information Network, and the Virtual Museum of Canada. These connections help the museum share its collections and knowledge with more people.
See also
In Spanish: Museo de Nuevo Brunswick para niños
