The Rooms facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | June 29, 2005 |
|---|---|
| Location | 9 Bonaventure Avenue St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador A1C 5P9 |
| Type | Art Gallery, the Provincial Archives and the Provincial Museum. |
| Visitors | 87,083 (2017) |
The Rooms is a special place in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It's like a big home for art, history, and old documents. This amazing building opened its doors on June 29, 2005. It sits on a hill with a great view of the city and the harbor. Long ago, an old fort called Fort Townshend stood in this very spot.
Contents
Discovering The Rooms' Past
What's in a Name?
The name "The Rooms" and the building's design are inspired by old fishing sheds. These simple sheds, with their sloped roofs, were called "fishing rooms." They were very common along the water in Newfoundland fishing villages.
Fort Townshend's Story
,_St._John%27s,_Newfoundland,_Canada.jpg)
Before The Rooms was built, this spot was home to Fort Townshend. This was an important military fort from the 1700s. It was a huge, star-shaped fortress, one of the biggest British forts in North America. Its job was to protect Britain's fishing interests in the area.
In 1870, the soldiers left the fort. Later, the site became home to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (police) and the St. John's Fire Department. In 1951, this historic spot was named a National Historic Site of Canada.
Today, visitors can learn about this past at The Rooms. Careful studies were done before building to make sure the site's history could still be explored.
Exploring the Fort Outdoors
In 2013, The Rooms decided to create an outdoor area to honor Fort Townshend. They marked the outline of the old fort with special granite pavers along a lit path. This path is now part of the Grand Concourse walking trail.
This outdoor space was finished in two parts between 2013 and 2014. It helps visitors imagine where the old fort once stood.
What You Can Find at The Rooms
The Rooms officially opened on June 29, 2005. From inside, you get amazing views of downtown St. John's, the harbor, The Narrows, and Signal Hill.
The Rooms is home to three important parts:
- The Provincial Archives
- The Provincial Art Gallery
- The Provincial Museum
These three parts work together to share the history, art, and culture of Newfoundland and Labrador.
The Archives: Keeping History Safe
The Archives are located on the third floor of The Rooms. Their main job is to keep important government records safe forever. These records are valuable for legal reasons, money matters, and for people doing research. The Archives also collect private documents that are important to the province's history.
You can look through the Archives' records online to discover more.
The Art Gallery: A World of Art
The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery is the main public art gallery in the province. It has a huge space, about 10,000 square feet, for showing art. The gallery features both its own permanent collections and exciting traveling exhibits.
Since opening in 2005, the gallery has put on about 15 new shows each year. These shows include everything from modern digital art to old Renaissance printmaking. The gallery displays new art from all over Canada and the world. It also pays special attention to artists from Newfoundland and Labrador.
The gallery looks after several art collections, known as the "Permanent Collections." These include art from Memorial University and the Provincial Art Bank. Together, they have over 7,000 pieces of art. Most of this art is Canadian and was created after 1960. There's a strong focus on art of Newfoundland and Labrador. You can see works by famous artists like Christopher Pratt, Mary Pratt, Gerald Squires, and David Blackwood.
The Museum: Exploring Nature and Culture
The Provincial Museum focuses on the natural world and the history of people in Newfoundland and Labrador. You can see amazing displays that show the animals and plants of the tundra and bog areas. There are also displays of mounted birds and information about the Indigenous people who lived here long ago.
Other exhibits cover the city's British military past and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary. You can also learn about the culture and contributions of the area's Irish fishermen. The museum often has new exhibits that explore different parts of the province's history, nature, and culture.
The original Newfoundland Museum was in a beautiful brick and sandstone building. It was located at 285 Duckworth Street in downtown St. John's. This old building is now recognized as an important heritage structure.
Where to Find The Rooms
The address for The Rooms is 9 Bonaventure Avenue in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador.
Connections and Partnerships
The Museum works with other important groups. These include the CMA, the CHIN, and the Virtual Museum of Canada.
