Wind-Ships: Cargo Vessels in the Last Days of Sail
January 15 – November 30
Level 2 Museum Vitrines
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Surviving ships’ portraits from the 1800s remind us of a vanished era of ocean-going commerce in the age of sail.
In those years North American schooners, brigs, barques and full- rigged ships were the workhorses of the Atlantic
trade routes. The ships’ portraits featured in this exhibit were painted in foreign ports of call and were valued
by merchant skippers and owners in the 1800s. For us, they are mementoes of a long vanished era of ocean- going commerce.
Silver: A Noble Metal
April 16 – Ongoing
Level 2 Atrium
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In chemistry, silver is considered a noble metal; it is resistant to corrosion and oxidation and is considered
precious due to its rarity in the Earth’s crust. It has been a status symbol for centuries, its artisans
creating functional works of art but also paying attention to styles and trends. It has also been considered
a great reward and is given as an award to important dignitaries, athletes and heroes on the battlefield. The
exhibition will examine silver (sterling and plate), its uses and markings and its production within the province.
Image: The Rooms Provincial Museum Division
The Roaring Twenties: Heels, Hemlines and High Spirits
Conceived and created by the Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto
May 25 – October 10
Level 2
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Born in the age of post-war exuberance, nurtured by the dynamism of the machine and seduced by the lure
of the exotic, The Roaring Twenties infused society and fashion with an energetic modernity. As hemlines
rose, shoes became increasingly important for stylish women and many of the decade’s exceptional
shoes illustrate the electrifying synergy between fashion and design. The Roaring Twenties: Heels, Hemlines
and High Spirits focuses on the wardrobe and widening horizons of the “New Woman” and looks
at how the influences of the period – cinema, jazz clubs, world travel – influenced the shape
of fashionable footwear.
Image: The Bata Shoe Museum, Toronto. P83.214
Working on History - Watching Our Stories Unfold
Ongoing
Level 2
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Come in and explore wonderful artifacts that reflect life in Newfoundland and
Labrador from the 1700s to present day. Tell us what you know and what you want
to know about these collections and the rich stories that they tell. From the
cod and seal fisheries to life in old St. John's and around the bay, the
province's history, heritage and cultures will be on display and in process.
Museum staff will be in the gallery preparing artifacts, gathering information
and answering questions about the exhibition and our collections. Join the fun
as we work on history right in front of your eyes.
Connections: This Place and Its Early Peoples
Level 3
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Come face to face with a polar bear on the tundra. Look closely at carnivorous plants in a bog. Marvel at
seabirds, sea mammals, all kinds of sea life. See how a remarkable mix of plants and animals found their
niche here since the glaciers retreated. And meet the peoples who came from almost every direction to make
their lives on the land and from the sea.
The first of our permanent exhibits traces the evolution of land and sea since the glaciers’ retreat
12,000 years ago. It’s an exploration of changes and connections and how nature is interwoven with the
lives of the peoples who lived here from 9,000 years ago to 1730.
Birds, Birds, Birds!
Level 3
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Guillemots, gyrfalcons and several kinds of gulls . . . did you know that there are over 30 species of
birds in The Rooms Provincial Museum’s Permanent Gallery. It’s a perfect place for budding
birders to practice their identification skills and learn all about the birds that call Newfoundland and
Labrador home.
Stroll the grounds of Fort Townshend where British soldiers marched and police paraded. Inside,
interpretive panels tell the story of this 18th century symbol of England’s domination over the
international fishery and the proud history of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary who have made the site
their home since 1870.
Talamh an Éisc: The Fishing Ground
Ongoing
Level 2
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Find out why so many people from Trepassey to Tilting describe themselves as Irish Newfoundlanders.
This exhibition introduces you to the Irish who have been here since the late 1600s while exploring the
communities they built and celebrating the contributions they made to life here in Newfoundland.
A project of the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and Ireland, with generous support from Tom and
Susan Foran.
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NEW ACQUISITIONS: DR. Cluny MacPherson After the Great War
April 5 – September 8
Level 3 Museum Alcove
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Dr. Cluny Macpherson is best known for developing the gas mask in the First World War,
but following the war he served as a leading doctor in the St. John’s medical community.
He was also known for tireless volunteer work and commitment to organizations including
St. John Ambulance and the Red Cross. This exhibit showcases items recently acquired by
The Rooms, exploring both his medical practice and volunteer work.
Image: The Rooms Provincial Museum Division
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