Newfoundland Museum: The Rooms
Explore History, Art & Culture St. John's Newest Museum/Exhibition
Visitors to St. John's, Newfoundland, can learn more about this capital city, and Canada's youngest province, at this showcase.
The Rooms, St. John's newest showcase, sits above the downtown. It was designed to mimic the fishing rooms where fishermen gathered, in the past glory days of the cod fishery, to process their bounty. Although the cod fishery is now in decline, The Rooms tells its story, as well as other interesting stories of Newfoundland and its people.
Museum and Art Gallery Exhibitions
Another Newfoundland story currently being told at The Rooms, until mid-January, is: Tilting: Rugged Landscape, Strong People, Fragile Architecture. Using documentary films, photographs, and every day items such as hooked rugs, dishes, and traditional furniture, this exhibit tells the story of this amazing outport community on Fogo Island, which has restored and maintained its houses and outbuildings.
The main art gallery is now exhibiting Hot Wax, a fascinating look at how artists use this common material in their work. In the center of the gallery is a congregation of wax faces and heads that, although disembodied, are strangely soothing to look at.
Historic Site
The variety of materials - glass and steel and stone – used to build The Rooms gives it texture and interest. This is a rich and abundant space for a rich and abundant history. After all, before Newfoundland became a province of Canada in 1949, it had been a colony of Great Britain for hundreds of years. The Vikings had even dropped by, hundreds of years before that.
The museum was built on the site where Fort Townshend, one of the largest British fortifications in North America, once defended the mother country’s fishing interests. However, the garrison left in 1870, and The Rooms now acts as sentinel, watching over old St. John’s.
Lunch at The Rooms Café
When it’s time for lunch, The Rooms Café, on the fourth floor, offers a nice selection of appetizers, sandwiches, and chef’s specialties (the Rock Crab Cakes, and Gnocchi with Chorizo are terrific), as well as an unrivalled view. Each table has a pair of binoculars so diners can get a better look at the colourful buildings, the harbour, and Signal Hill from their bird’s eye perch.
Genealogy and a Gift Shop
Visitors with Newfoundland roots may find some missing family history in the archives, for a one time fee of ten dollars, while everyone will find something of interest at the gift shop.
Among the items for sale are rug hooking kits, books by local writers, and a festive selection of mummers - masked visitors who would go from house to house at Christmas, for a slice of fruit cake and a glass of rum.
How to Get There
The Rooms is located at 9 Bonaventure Avenue. Telephone 709-757-8000, or visit their website.
