Sturgeon River House Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1967 |
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| Location | Sturgeon Falls, Ontario |
| Type | Community museum |
| Collection size | abt. 1 000 |
| Visitors | abt. 10 000 |
| Owner | Municipality of West Nipissing |
The Sturgeon River House Museum (also called SRH) is a fun place to learn about Canadian history and nature. It's located in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Canada. This museum helps keep alive the stories and traditions of the people and nature in the West Nipissing area.
The museum focuses on two main time periods. First, it teaches about the fur trade from 1623 to 1879. This was a time when people traded animal furs. Second, it shows what life was like for pioneers in West Nipissing between 1878 and 1939. Pioneers were the first settlers in a new area.
You can also learn about the three main groups of pioneers in this region. These include the First Nations people, and settlers from France and England. The museum also has a special nature area called the Theodore Fouriezos Wetlands Park. It has about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) of easy walking trails.
Discovering the Museum's History
The museum is built on an important historical spot. It's where a real Hudson's Bay Company trading post once stood. This post was on the west side of the Sturgeon River. It was also close to Lake Nipissing. The trading post was active from the early 1800s until 1882. After that, the land was sold, and the old post slowly fell apart.
The museum itself started in 1967. It was a special project to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday. Many local groups and governments helped to create it.
Key Moments in Time
Let's look at some important dates for the museum:
Early Days: 1967 to 1980
The museum was built and first opened during these years. It was open only at certain times of the year. Volunteers from the area helped run it. The site had a replica of a log trading post. It was even surrounded by a log fence! In 1980, an old house from 1898 was moved to the museum. It was donated by the Major family, who were early settlers. At this time, the museum had about 100 historical items.
Growing the Museum: 1980 to 1990
A special committee was formed to help manage the museum. They worked hard to collect more items. In 1984, about 20 volunteers started a non-profit group. This group helped raise money for the museum. The J.P. Charles family also donated some of their old blacksmith tools. A log building was built to store all the new items. Later, a small office building was added. It was updated to include an exhibit room. In 1989, a stage was built for events. More storage space was also added for the growing collection.
New Staff and Collections: 1990 to 1994
The museum hired its first full-time employee during this time. This person was a curator, who helps manage the museum's collections. The museum then started to stay open all year. In 1992, the volunteer group bought the "Trappers' Museum" collection. They donated it to the museum. This collection included taxidermy (stuffed animals) and tools used for trapping. In 1993, another full-time helper was hired to manage the museum's daily tasks.
Expanding and Rebuilding: 1995 to 1999
In 1995, the museum received a big gift of land. The Theodore Fouriezos family donated 75 acres. This land became the Theodore Fouriezos Wetland Park. It has lots of wetlands and a special cranberry bog. The museum made a plan to make the museum and its trails a big tourist spot.
A few years later, the museum got approval for a huge project. They would spend $1.6 million to upgrade and expand the site. Most of the old buildings were taken down. A new, bigger building was constructed. This construction took two years and finished in 2000. During this time, the museum also hired a full-time naturalist. In 1999, the wetland park grew even bigger with another 100 acres of land. The museum officially reopened in June 2000.
New Exhibits Open: 2000 to 2002
When the museum reopened in June 2000, it had a new main exhibit. This exhibit was all about the fur trade and local animals. In September 2002, another important exhibit opened. It was about the French Pioneers of West Nipissing. This exhibit honored and told the stories of the first French-speaking settlers.
Recent Times: 2020 and Beyond
The museum had to close for a while during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What You Can See: Collections and Exhibits
Museum Collections
The museum has many interesting items in its collection. Here are some of them:
- Tools and equipment used for trapping animals.
- Taxidermy (stuffed animals) that show local wildlife.
- Tools used for farming and taking care of animals.
- Tools used by a blacksmith (someone who works with metal).
- Items related to Canadian history and culture (called Canadiana).
- Art created by local artists.
Museum Archives
The museum also has a special archive. This is a place where old documents and records are kept. It includes things like:
- Old tax records from local towns.
- Old newspapers.
- Books and encyclopedias.
- Religious books.
- Pictures donated by people who live in the area.
Museum Exhibits
The museum has different types of exhibits for visitors to explore:
- Permanent Exhibit: This exhibit is always there. It teaches you about trapping and the fur trade.
- Semi-Permanent Exhibit: This exhibit stays for a long time. It's about the French Pioneers of West Nipissing.
- Temporary/Seasonal Exhibits: These exhibits change throughout the year. Past topics have included:
- Remembrance Day
- The Commercial Fishing Industry
- The Cranberry Festival
