Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
http://fisheries.museum.gov.ns.ca/
Visit Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
Contact Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic interprets the history of the offshore and inshore fisheries in Atlantic Canada. Go aboard an actual Banks schooner, Theresa E. Connor, and the steel-hulled side-trawler Cape Sable. There’s a film theatre, the Millennium Aquarium where students can see living saltwater and freshwater fish, and exhibits on topics such as the inshore fisheries, rum running, Bluenose, shipbuilding, sail making, Community Life, Marine Artist Earl Bailly, Camp Norway, Fishermen’s Memorial Room, Whaling and Whales, Marine Engines, the Grand Banks fisheries with excellent vessel models, as well as a boat shop, Shucking House, and the Cape North wheelhouse.
Enjoy regular demonstrations of heritage skills of the fisherman: bait-bag making, sailmaking techniques, knitting, quilting, knot tying, trawl rigging, net mending and lobster trap construction. The very popular launch of a model schooner takes place several times daily.
68 Bluenose Drive, Lunenburg
Tel: 902 634 4794
Fax: 902 634 8990
Open during the off-season by appointment
$3 admission for school students; drivers & chaperones free of charge
Services
Museum Shop, restaurant, picnic tables on wharf, wheelchair accessible washrooms, elevator, parking for buses.
For information on school group lunch packages, contact The Old Fish Factory restaurant at 902-634-3333 or 800-533-9336
General Tours
A general tour of the Museum requires two to three hours. A schedule for a shorter tour of the site will be provided to chaperones with school groups.
School Programs
To book classes at the Museum, please contact Laurie Smith or Hilda Russell between May 9 and October 15, or Ralph Getson during the off-season at 634-4794. Call early to reserve a date of visit and your call will be returned in early May, to finalize school program bookings. Book early to avoid disappointment.
School activities are an important part of the public programming at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. We recommend that teachers book their classes as soon as possible. Please note that the programs can be adapted to many grade levels and have been thoroughly revised during the past several years. Activities take approximately one hour and include:
The famous Bluenose comes to life in this program! Filled with activity, we provide a detailed history of the schooner - but the students have so much fun that they hardly know that they are learning! The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic has the largest collection of Bluenose artifacts in the world and the activities normally take place near the exhibit. Students are involved in role playing and a wharf-side model schooner launch. Tricky question of the day? "What's the connection between the Bluenose and a chocolate bar?"
The flagship of the Museum, the schooner Theresa E. Connor, is featured in this program. Students learn about life at sea during the age of fishing schooners. Take a good look at the bunks, the menu and how the men fished. Schooner fishing was a primary source of employment in Atlantic Canada for many generations - and a way of life. This program helps students understand the background of many coastal communities. Look for "blood ends" and "fish eyes" on the menu!
Students get up close and personal with a live lobster, as they learn about the life-cycle, habits and diet of this popular crustacean. Students see how lobsters are measured and banded and then view different types of lobster traps. Did you know lobsters have invisible blood?
We discuss the differences between toothed and baleen whales. Also covered are the anatomy, habits and the history of whales. A popular program, you will be able to tell folks what the connection is between the Blue whale and a Volkswagen bug!
A great way to get student participation, the Weir Fishing program focuses on an ancient method of catching fish. Often accompanied by a slide presentation, we review the construction and use of woven brush weirs and net weirs in the Bay of Fundy. We also investigate the main type of fish caught in weirs: herring. Students have the opportunity (and some would say the luxury) of sampling marinated herring (solomon gundy). Can you put your lips around the answer to the question - what part of the herring is used in some lip glosses?
All Grade Levels
The “Cape Sable”, one of the FMA vessels, is featured in this program. Students learn about fishing from a steel-hulled fishing trawler. They see where the fishermen slept, what they ate and how they fished. Read about the amazing bell story in the wheel house.
Adaptable Grade 4+
Do you say "skall-up" or "scaul-up"? Find out how we say it and learn about the life-cycle and intriguing anatomy of this bivalve. Discover what life is like aboard a scallop dragger. For the brave-of-heart, consider the question "How many eyes does a scallop have?"
Adaptable Grade 6+
Here's your chance to pledge your allegiance to the Temperance Movement and never let strong drink influence you! We lead you in a lively look at the Canadian prohibition movement and rum running activities along the east coast during the 1920s and 1930s. Join the White Ribbon Army and receive your pledge card!
