New Brunswick Museum facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 1842 |
|---|---|
| Location | Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada |
| Type | provincial museum |
| Visitors | 32,584 (2017) |
The New Brunswick Museum is in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. It is the oldest museum in Canada that has been open continuously. The museum officially became the "Provincial Museum" in 1929. It got its current name in 1930. But its story actually started much earlier, in 1842. This was thanks to the work of Dr. Abraham Gesner.
Contents
Museum's Long History
The New Brunswick Museum has a very long and interesting history. It began with a man named Dr. Abraham Gesner. He was a scientist who loved to collect things.
Early Beginnings: The Museum of Natural History
On April 5, 1842, Abraham Gesner opened his Museum of Natural History. This was the very first version of the New Brunswick Museum. It was located in just one room. This room was inside the Mechanics' Institute on Carleton Street in Saint John.
Sadly, the money from his new museum was not enough. In 1843, Gesner's collection went to the people he owed money to. They then gave the collection to the Saint John Mechanics' Institute.
Becoming the Mechanics' Institute Museum
In 1846, the museum was renamed the Mechanics' Institute Museum. An old report from 1863 described it. It said the museum had "a large and valuable collection of minerals." It also had "a great variety of zoological specimens." Plus, there were "many Chinese, Indian and other curiosities." Sea captains and others often added new items from faraway places.
Moving and Growing the Collections
The Mechanics' Institute closed in 1890. The Natural History Society of New Brunswick then took over the collection. The museum moved first to the new Market Building. Later, in 1906, it moved to 72 Union Street.
Under the care of Dr. William McIntosh, the museum grew a lot. He was an entomologist, someone who studies insects. He became the museum's curator and later its director. The collections and activities expanded so much that a new building was needed.
In 1934, a new provincial museum building opened on Douglas Avenue. The Prime Minister at the time, R.B. Bennett, officially opened it.
A Provincial Treasure
By 1942, the museum's collections and buildings officially belonged to the people of New Brunswick. Today, the New Brunswick Museum is a provincial institution. The Province of New Brunswick provides its funding.
The museum continues to collect, protect, study, and show the natural and cultural heritage of the province. It has an amazing collection of natural science items. The museum also has one of the largest collections of 19th-century decorative arts. It also holds many items related to Canadian history in the Atlantic provinces.
Museum's Expansion and Future
Over the years, the museum needed more space. Its collections kept growing.
New Exhibition Spaces
By 1992, the Douglas Avenue building was too small. Plans were made to create new exhibition galleries. These would be in a central location in Saint John.
In April 1996, the New Brunswick Museum opened at Market Square. This was in a rented space in uptown Saint John. This new Market Square Exhibition Centre had three floors. It offered about 5,574 square meters (60,000 square feet) of exhibition space. It also hosted many public programs. The main Collections Centre, Archives, Research Library, and Head Office stayed at the Douglas Avenue location.
Plans for a New Home
In 2017, the government announced a new, single museum facility. It would combine the Douglas Avenue and Market Square locations. This new building would be in uptown Saint John. However, in December 2018, a new government cancelled this project. They did this to save money.
In July 2023, good news arrived! It was announced that the New Brunswick Museum would return to its original 1934 home. This is the building on Douglas Avenue in Saint John. Officials said they would create a new design. This design would update and preserve the nearly 100-year-old building. Diamond Schmitt Architects won the job to design the new facility.
In December 2023, the museum announced another step forward. It found a new research and collections centre. This new centre is on Saint John's west side. This move prepares the museum to start building its new home in 2024. The new Douglas Avenue building is estimated to cost $150 million.
Museum Connections
The New Brunswick Museum works with other important groups. It is connected to the Canadian Museums Association. It also works with the Canadian Heritage Information Network. And it is part of the Virtual Museum of Canada.
See also
In Spanish: Museo de Nuevo Brunswick para niños
