- This page was last modified on 16 June 2025, at 08:06. Suggest an edit.
Yarmouth County Museum & Archives facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 1935 |
|---|---|
| Location | 22 Collins Street Yarmouth, Nova Scotia B5A 3C8 |
| Type | Municipal Museum & Archives |
The Yarmouth County Museum & Archives is a cool place in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. It's like a time capsule that helps you explore the history of Yarmouth County. The museum is in a neat old church and two historic houses. In the summer, they also have displays at the old Killam Brothers Shipping Office by the water.
How the Museum Started
The museum began in 1935. That's when the Yarmouth County Historical Society was created. This group then formed the museum in 1958.
The museum moved to its current spot in 1969. This building used to be the Tabernacle Congregational Church. It's an old granite church built in 1892. It's even listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places!
In 2000, the museum grew bigger. It added two old houses next door. One of these is the Abram Little House. A new part was built to store things safely and keep them in good condition. This new section also has a special center for looking at old records.
The museum grounds also include the Pelton-Fuller house. This house was built in 1892. It was the summer home of Alfred C. Fuller, who was famous for "the Fuller Brush Man" company. His wife gave the house to the museum in 1997. The museum fixed it up to show off its amazing collection of old furniture and costumes from the Victorian era. The museum has won many awards for its great work.
Amazing Collections
The museum has some really special collections. It has the third largest collection of marine paintings in all of Canada. These are paintings of ships and the sea! It also has the biggest collection of community records in Nova Scotia.
You can see the original big lens from the Cape Forchu Lighthouse. This lens helped ships see the light for many years. It's displayed right in the middle of the museum's main gallery. The museum saved this lens in 1962 when the old lighthouse was replaced.
Two old stagecoaches are also on display. One was built right here in Yarmouth. The other is a well-kept Concord stagecoach. Both were used in the mid-1800s to carry people between Yarmouth and Tusket, Nova Scotia.
There's a special display that looks like the bridge of the MV Bluenose. This was a ferry that sailed from Yarmouth for a long time. You can see the ship's wheel, compass, telegraph, and bell from the ferry.
The museum also has a round metal plaque. It was made by the Canadian Bank of Commerce. It remembers the bank's employees who served during the First World War. This plaque was found in a building that used to be a bank branch in Yarmouth.
The museum is also home to the mysterious Yarmouth Runic Stone. This stone is one of the most famous items from Yarmouth's history. People still debate if it was left by Norse explorers long ago.