Fantastic imaginary creatures? Amazing but real marine life? Either way, stories of ocean and lake monsters have fascinated us since the dawn of time. Seafarers were convinced that the oceans were the devil's kingdom, a place of terrifying monsters eager for shipwrecks, the home of sirens, krakens, whales, sea serpents, and giant sharks. Early naturalists were fascinated by the strange creatures of the deep. This bilingual exhibition will take you where the fantastic intertwines with reality.

This exhibition is produced by the Musée du Fjord, in partnership with The Rooms Provincial Museum Division, the Maritime Museum of British Columbia, and Océanopolis (France).

Fantastic Sea Monsters

In 1610 the first English settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador was founded at Cupids, Conception Bay - the first English speaking community in what would become Canada. As part of the Cupids 400 celebrations this exhibition explores the early decades of English colonization in the region using rare original documents and archaeological artifacts that tell Cupids and its settler's tales. It delves into the impacts that the first generations of English Newfoundlanders and Labradorians had on the province.

Image: The 1612 meeting between John Guy and the Beothuk of Newfoundland at Trinity Bay / M. Merian (detail: pub. 1634) The Rooms Provincial Archives Division, MG 168.3

Come and explore the life cycle of an artifact as we prepare a wide selection of rarely seen treasures from our collections for their journey to our regional museum in Grand Bank. From carriages and sleighs, to lighthouses and fishing boats, watch, learn and discover the ‘ whys’ and the ‘hows’ with our curators, conservators, cataloguers and collections managers as they clean, restore, and research the province’s treasures.

At the centre of this interactive mini-exhibit is a story of life and death written in stone. Find out about a really fascinating fossil and see if you can discover what happened to these trilobites 500 million years ago.

Most people came here by boat.  And almost everyone who has ever lived in Newfoundland and Labrador has needed them to travel the inland waterways or out to sea.  This exhibition looks at how these small but important vessels were made and used, and how they are still a part of our lives today.

Find out all about the last ice age; the mammals that survived and those that didn't. See skulls and bones of ice age beasts, and detailed artwork of what they looked like. Touch a real mammoth tusk! Hear scientists' stories as they recount their Arctic adventures and discoveries. It's a cool experience!

Become a Junior Curator and discover what happens in our natural history labs and storage rooms. See how bird skeletons are prepared. Get the closest look ever at a stuffed puffin. Use bird specimens to learn lots of fascinating facts about the diversity of our feathered friends.

Explore the beauty and vulnerability of some of Canada’s native plants. See how you can play a part in the survival and recovery of threatened species. Then investigate Seeds of Knowledge; a collection of beautifully preserved specimens of Newfoundland and Labrador flora. - And in our Theatre, check out Hotel Heliconia - Larger than life and in high definition, this film fills the screen with some of the most beautiful flowers on Earth. The Heliconia is a hotel and supermarket for butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and bats. Check at the Admissions Desk for a Daily Schedule.

Generations of women recycled rags into warm and beautiful floor coverings. Then, lifestyles changed, the mats went out of fashion and the know-how was nearly lost. This exhibit of colourful creations by the Rug Hooking Guild of Newfoundland and Labrador celebrates the part they played in preserving this traditional art.

These boots were made for walking…all the way to St. John’s. They belonged to Johnny Rowe, the first person to walk across the newly completed Trans Canada highway in 1966. This exhibit marks the 40th anniversary of the highway and his walk, and celebrates the life of this remarkable man.

Before poppies there were Forget-me not’s, a symbol of remembrance and respect. Learn about the catastrophic losses suffered by the 1st Newfoundland Regiment on the first day of the Somme Offensive July 1st, 1916 as this exhibit brings together information on the early commemorative and activities which preceded the international Poppy Day campaigns initiated on November 11th, 1921.

More than just a police force, Newfoundland Rangers were responsible for public works, government licenses, game law enforcement, relief payments and plant inspections. This exhibit examines the unique history of The Newfoundland Rangers during the Commission of Government period.

From the cradle onwards, a unique system of nineteen cottage hospitals, six nursing stations and a clinic on a boat once provided quality medical care all over Newfoundland. This exhibit takes you inside their walls to share the stories of the dedicated people who worked in these distinct hospitals.

Between 1942 and 1948, almost 44,000 women came from Europe to Canada to join their servicemen husbands. To celebrate their lives and to mark the Year of the War Bride, artist Bev Tosh has created this inspiring installation – 52 life-sized portraits . . . standing shoulder to shoulder . . . leaning on and supporting one another . . . in art as in life.

They’re the smallest of birds – tiny iridescent jewels that dart from flower to flower so quickly that you can hardly see them. Enjoy this rare opportunity to closely observe over 50 different species of hummingbirds suspended in time in this extraordinary exhibit from Musée de la nature et des sciences de Sherbrooke.

These are not your grandmother’s hooked rugs - Mats that comment on offshore oil, some that incorporate bark and twigs, photographs and jewellery - and one that’s even hooked with wire on sheet metal . Curator Gloria Hickey has put together the recent work of 21 textile artists to show how they are taking this traditional craft in whole new directions using some very unconventional materials and processes.

What do chickens and chickadees have in common? Feathers of course! Find out what else they share – and some neat things they don’t – as you get to know the birds that live around us in this interactive exhibit from The Canadian Museum of Nature.

Three waves of people settled The Battery. The first wave came to fish. The next was enticed by the closeness of the community and inspired by its way of life. The last wave came mainly for the beautiful view. What was once a ‘hard place’ is now a desirable location, with soaring property prices and designer homes. This exhibit tells the story of The Battery - a story that echoes the dramatic social, cultural and economic changes occurring in many of our outports today.

Boat-builder Jerome Canning will be on hand throughout the summer to construct a Rodney from stem to stern. Come have a look and learn all about the tools and techniques he uses. Share his stories of this workhorse of wooden boats and the other small vessels we once used throughout our province.

These exquisite works by Dorothy Black were first used to illustrate Peter Scott’s comprehensive and gorgeous guide to the wildflowers, Wildflowers of Newfoundland and Labrador. Now explore their splendor and see how many you have in your backyard.

A tour through this exhibit is like a trip to Tilting - an outport on the exposed eastern coast of Fogo Island with a remarkable collection of restored traditional houses and outbuildings. Curator Robert Mellon takes us into this living and working community that's home to people who are as much a treasure as the architecture and cultural landscape.

We’re going to take you on an adventure…to a new home in Canada…to a family reunion…to any wonderful place you can imagine. This fun-filled exhibit from the Canadian Children’s Museum will let you and your family explore why we travel, and how it changes us - so pack your bags!

Follow in the footsteps of European women from centuries past who roamed the globe. Discover how they broke down boundaries and left a world wide open for the women who followed. This exhibit is from the Vancouver Museum and based on the book by Barbara Hodgson.

From the smallest lichen on ancient rock, to the towering Torngat Mountains, you’ll feel Arnold Zageris’s fascination and intensity through these 30 spectacular large-format photographs that focus on the timeless and stark scenery from above the tree line. The exhibit was developed in partnership with the Canadian Museum of Nature.

The roots of the designs were in Ireland and England, but craftspeople here made them their own. They notched and carved, painted and decorated everything from chairs to cutlery boxes to create one of the most highly distinctive and innovative bodies of regional furniture in North America. This exhibit from the collections of Walter and Sally Peddle and The Rooms Provincial Museum, showcases the art and the science of some of the very best pieces.

Experience the legendary career of Maurice “The Rocket” Richard from its earliest days to the accolades he received at the height of his career. Featuring over 90 remarkable objects, including the last Number 9 hockey sweater The Rocket wore as a playing member of the Montreal Canadians; hockey sticks used to score landmark goals; as well as his Hall of Fame induction ring and the original copy of his retirement speech, this exhibition celebrates this legend’s enduring reputation as a true Canadian hockey idol.

“Rocket” Richard: The Legend - The Legacy is a travelling exhibition produced by the Canadian Museum of Civilization.

This groundbreaking exhibition from the Canadian War Museum presents Canada’s participation in the war in Afghanistan -- from 9/11 to the most recent breaking news. Discover personal stories drawn from the chaos of battle and the struggle for peace, including those of the Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who are playing a role in every aspect of operations.

Explore the story of Robert E. Peary’s 1908-09 trek as told through the glorious hand-tinted lantern slides and the words of his assistant Donald B. MacMillan. From art2art Circulating Exhibitions and Bowdoin College.

Become a Junior Curator and discover what happens in our natural history labs and storage rooms. See how bird skeletons are prepared. Get the closest look ever at a stuffed puffin. Use bird specimens to learn lots of fascinating facts about the diversity of our feathered friends.

As he explored the north, Captain Bob Bartlett and his crews collected all kinds of things. Here’s a sampling from Bartlett’s expeditions and from other Newfoundland and Labrador residents who ventured to the far north.

As he explored the north, Captain Bob Bartlett and his crews collected all kinds of things. Here’s a sampling from Bartlett’s expeditions and from other Newfoundland and Labrador residents who ventured to the far north.

Explore the history of some of the first money used in Canada at the Colony of Avalon in Ferryland. Rare coins and artifacts from this exciting archaeological site are featured along with coins from the National Currency Collection in Ottawa.

A travelling exhibition from the Bank of Canada’s Currency Museum.

View some of our most interesting new things – antique artifacts, archaeological finds and specimens from nature - all recently acquired for the Museum in our three collecting areas - History, Archaeology & Ethnology and Natural History. Prepare to be intrigued.

Image: Silver Salver, ca. 1830, Old Sheffield Plate. Sir Alexander Bannerman, Governor of Newfoundland, 1857-64. Collection of The Rooms Provincial Museum Division.

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.

These small, light working boats were used for a variety of jobs around the harbour and out on the bay. They were often used as ‘collar’ boats to row from shore out to larger motor punts and cod-trap skiffs moored ‘on the collar’ in deeper water. Rodneys were also towed out to cod traps by skiffs and punts where they aided in hauling in traps. And in some places, rodneys were used in winter to hunt birds and seals in the sea ice.

This particular boat was constructed in the summer of 2007 by builder Jerome Canning at The Rooms as part of a demonstration of boat building.

Interpretive panels tell the story of Fort Townshend, the 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.

Whether ceremonial or functional, the military uniform has always held appeal and strongly influenced civilian fashion. Yet uniforms go beyond mere fashion statements to stand as expressions of the commitment to the military service. Dress Code showcases uniform and equipment accessories from the 1700s to present day. It explores the uniform as both an identity carrier and an expression of the military vocation, highlighting the importance of ceremonial features and functional design.

Joseph Banks was one of the first Europeans to visit our province with the sole purpose of collecting and classifying its flora and fauna. During his 1766 voyage he amassed a collection of specimens and notes that continue to shape scientific thought and efforts today. The exhibition features an exact replica of his voyage diary and some of the plant specimens that he collected. Also featured are modern provincial projects that illustrate some of the significant ways that botany has changed since Banks's day.

This small exhibit explores Newfoundland’s connections with the disastrous 1912 sinking through related artifacts, documents and images from the Rooms’ collections. From distress messages received at Cape Race, to items recovered at sea in the search for bodies, these relics tell their own story of the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in history.

Please also visit: 100 Years Later: Titanic in the Archives