Fantastic Sea Monsters
February 12 - June 19
Level 2 |

February 12 - June
19 Level 2
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

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Here to Stay: Cupids 1610
... June 18 - January 2011 Level 2 |
| 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

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Out of the Vaults: The Secret World of Artifacts
January 26 – September 6 2010 - Level 4 |
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.

Trilobites on the Block
February 5 - July 1 - Level 3 |
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.

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Slicing the Waves: Canoes, Kayaks and Small Wooden Boats February 5 - November 5 - Level 2 |
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.

Ice Age Mammals
June 27- January 3, 2010
-
Level 4 |
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!

Collecting the Arctic: Bob Bartlett's World of North
July 15 - March 14,
2010 - Level 3 |
As they explored the north, Captain Bob Bartlett and his crew collected all kinds of things. Plants and animals, geological specimens, and everyday objects of the Inuit made their way into many museum collections, including ours. This exhibition is a sampling from Bartlett expeditions and from other Newfoundland and Labrador residents who ventured to the far north. It's just one of the ways we are Celebrating Bartlett in 2009.

Collecting
Birds: A Beak Behind
the Scenes
November 26 - May
30, 2010 -
Level 2 |
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.

Green Legacy
July 1 - January
14, 2006 - Level 2 |
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?


From the Floor
to the Wall
May 6 - July 3, 2006
- Level 4 |
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.
Going the
Distance:
Celebrating the
Achievements of
Johnny Rowe.
August 1 -
September 30, 2006 -
Level 2 |
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.
Forget-Me-Not:
Commemorating
Beaumont Hamel
July 1 -
November 15, 2006 -
Level 2 |
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.

The Newfoundland
Ranger Force, 1935 –
1950, Level 2
July 24 -
November 26, 2006 |
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.
Cottage
Hospitals:
Celebrating 70 years
of Caring
September 26 -
November 22, 2006 -
Level 2 |
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.

One Way Passage:
Canada’s War Brides
October 22, 2006
- January 21, 2007 -
Level 4 |
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.

Hummingbirds of
the Americas
January 20 -
April 29, 2007 -
Level 2 |
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.
Traditions in
Transition:
Contemporary Hooked
Rugs of Newfoundland
and Labrador
November 2
- January 21, 2007 -
Level 4 |
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.

Our Feathered
Friends
February 2 -
April 22, 2007 -
Level 2 |
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.

The Battery:
People of the
Changing Outport
May 17 -
September 3, 2007 -
Level 2 |
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.

Building a Boat
Before Your Eyes
July 2 -
September 3, 2007 -
Level 4 |
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.

Wildflowers of
Newfoundland and
Labrador
Summer 2007 -
Atrium |
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.

Tilting: Rugged
Landscape, Strong
People, Fragile
Architecture
September 28 -
January 13, 2008 -
Level 2 |
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.

Pack Your Bags!
: A Kid’s Ticket to
Travel
January 26 -
April 27, 2008 -
Level 2 |
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!

No Place for a
Lady: Tales of
Adventurous Women
Travellers
January 26 -
April 6, 2008 -
Level 4 |
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.

On the Labrador:
Photographs by
Arnold Zageris
January 26 -
April 6, 2008
- Level 4 |
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.

Invention,
Exuberance and Art:
The Country
Furniture of the
Island of
Newfoundland
July 3, 2008 –
January 18, 2009
- Level 2 |
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.

“Rocket”
Richard: The Legend
- The Legacy
September 8 –
November 30, 2008 |
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.

Afghanistan: A
Glimpse of War
January 15 -
April 26, 2009 -
Level 4 |
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.

Across the Polar
Sea: With Robert E.
Peary on the North
Pole Expedition
November 17 -
January 17, 2010 -
Level 4
|
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.

Collecting
Birds: A Beak Behind
the Scenes
November 26,
2009 – May 30, 2010
- Level 2
|
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.

Collecting the
Arctic: Bob
Bartlett's World of
North
July 15, 2009 -
March 14, 2010
|
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.

Out of the
Vaults: The Secret
World of Artifacts
January 26 –
June 2010 -
Level 4
|
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.

Broken Coins and
Paper Promises: The
Currency of
Ferryland in the
17the Century
February 16,
2010 - January 2011
- Level 2
|
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.

New Acquisitions
Ongoing
Level 3 |
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.
Talamh an Éisc:
The Fishing Ground
Ongoing -
Level 2 |
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.
The Rodney
Ongoing - Level
4 |
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.
A Tour de Fort
Ongoing - Level
2 |
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.


Dress Code
April 4 - August 31
Level 2 Vitrines
|
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.


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