Royal Military College of Canada Museum facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Royal Military College of Canada Museum

Established	1962
Location	Fort Frederick 4 Passchendale Dr. on the campus of the Royal Military College of Canada Kingston, Ontario Ontario East
Type	military history

The Royal Military College of Canada Museum opened in 1962. It is located inside a special round building called a Martello tower. This tower is known as Fort Frederick. It sits on the campus of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMC) in Kingston, Ontario. The college itself runs the museum.

Before 2016, the museum was open regularly during the summer. Entry was free, but people could give donations. You could also get guided tours in English and French. The museum also helped people research family history related to the college.

In 2016, work started to fix up Fort Frederick. The museum had to move out of the tower. This meant it no longer had a public space to show its exhibits. You can still visit the museum and its historic site online through the Virtual Museum.

The Martello tower that houses the museum was built around 1790. It was mostly made of earth with a stone wall on the north side. It is now a recognized historic place in Canada. Fort Frederick is one of four Martello Towers built between 1846 and 1848. They were made by the Royal Engineers to help protect Kingston. This Martello tower was named after Frederick, Prince of Wales.

What the Museum Does

The museum's main job is to collect, protect, study, and show items. These items tell the story of the Royal Military College of Canada (RMCC). They also highlight the achievements of its graduates. The museum also covers the naval history of the area. This includes the Kingston Royal Naval Dockyard that used to be at Point Frederick.

Museum Collections

The Leinster Plate, a collection of silverware from the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment.

Museum storage area at Fort Haldimand, Royal Military College of Canada.

The museum has many interesting items. These include military memorabilia and about 7,000 other pieces. You can see weapons from the 16th to 20th centuries. There are also uniforms, flags, military art, and trophies.

For example, the museum has the Douglas Arms Collection. Walter Douglas (who attended RMC in 1890) gave this collection to the college. It has over 400 guns that once belonged to Mexican President, General Porfirio Diaz. Another important collection is the Leinster Plate. This is a set of silverware from the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment. The Nanton Arms collection was given by J. Nanton (RMC 1882). It includes Indian daggers and other weapons. These were given to Nanton by the Maharajah of Cooch Behar when he served in India.

A model of the 112-gun HMS St Lawrence (1814) was given to the museum in 2008. The bottom floor of the Martello tower shows exhibits about the War of 1812. It also covers the fort’s dockyard. The main floor tells the story of the college. It also has personal items from the "Old Eighteen." These were the first students who joined in 1876. Cannons are displayed on a gun platform at the top of the tower. The museum's archives also hold maps, drawings, old papers, and photos.

The museum also looks after a collection of Canadian landscape and military art. These include paintings, sculptures, and stained glass windows. You can see these artworks around the college, especially in Currie Hall and Yeo Hall. In 2011, the college announced a new art display area in the New Learning Center.

Art Collection Details

A sculpture of Air Commodore Leonard Birchall by André Gauthier.

Since 2010, the Royal Military College of Canada Museum has been in charge of the college’s art collection. This collection has over 1,000 two-dimensional artworks. These include paintings, prints, and drawings. It also has three-dimensional works like sculptures and stained glass. About 20% of the art is on display at the college. The rest is stored in Fort Haldimand.

The art collection includes works by famous artists. Some of these are Admiral Henry Wolsey Bayfield, Charles Comfort, Lawren Philip Harris, and C.W. Jefferys. Many artworks were given to the college by former students or graduating classes. They were often given as gifts, memorials, or through special orders. For example, the Class of 1974 gave the Gauthier Collection. This collection has 60 military sculptures by Col (Ret’d) André Gauthier.

Working with Other Groups

The museum is part of several important groups. It is a member of the Canadian Museums Association. It also belongs to the Organization of Military Museums of Canada Inc. The museum is approved by the Canadian Forces Museum System. It works closely with the Canadian Heritage Information Network and the Virtual Museum of Canada. A group of friends of the museum also helps with projects.

Parks Canada often works with the Royal Military College of Canada Museum. They sometimes offer joint programs or provide support.

War Trophies and Memorials

The museum's curator looks after the war trophies and memorials around the college. These are special items that remember military events or people.

An 88mm gun monument at the Royal Military College of Canada.

The X Guns from HMCS Huron (G24) at the Royal Military College of Canada.

A Bailey bridge at the Royal Military College of Canada. It was built in 2004 to celebrate 100 years of the Engineering Branch.

An F-86 Sabre monument at the Royal Military College of Canada.

See also

• Military history of Canada
• History of the Canadian Army