Signal Hill Tattoo and the Rooms

Juanita, Scott and I and Mandy and Reese visited the Rooms and were able to get in to see the museum and the art gallery, however it was a Sunday and so the Archives were sadly closed. This photo is taken from across the Harbour looking at the St. John's skyline- The Rooms stand out. Well, the Rooms and the jellybean row.... St. John's as you have heard from my facebook have rows and rows of brightly coloured houses which are collectively referred to as "Jelly Bean Row". I love the jelly bean houses:


The Rooms is a place you can immerse yourself in the culture of Newfoundland and Labrador. It's the place where it all comes together - our history, heritage and artistic expression. The Rooms unites the Provincial Museum, the Provincial Art Gallery and the Provincial Archives under one roof. A place for people, The Rooms is a portal to the many stories our province has to tell.


Soaring into the skyline of historic St. John’s, The Rooms combines twenty-first century technology with a striking visual reference to our past. Its unique design mirrors the “fishing rooms” where families came together to process their catch. Our new “rooms” are also places to gather. In them, you’ll find collections, exhibits and programs that tell our stories and interpret our natural world through art, artifacts, archaeology, architecture and archival records. Precision environmental controls and a state-of-the-art security system allow The Rooms to safeguard these treasures and bring in traveling exhibits that showcase the best the world has to offer.







The Rooms site itself is of deep historical significance. Almost 250 years before The Rooms rose on the landscape, this was the site of Fort Townshend. The great star-shaped citadel, one of the largest British fortifications in North America at the time, was built to defend Britain’s fishing interests. With the withdrawal of the imperial garrison in 1870, the site became the home of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and, later, the St. John’s Fire Department. On-site interpretation allows visitors to explore this historic past.

It is very cool






The Rooms offers panoramic vistas of St. John’s and its harbour, A multi-level atrium serves as both a gathering place and space for constantly changing exhibits and events.

Sadly for us, the view is of FOG. I know this is surpising to many who know Newfoundland RDF as a daily occurance however for the newbies out there, RDF means Rain-Drizzle-Fog and is the standard forecast for St. John's.

We were here 3 weeks before we had any substantial sun. The down side to having sun is that is when it is windy- it is either one or the other, I am afraid. We (Scott and I) have not worried too much about the weather but it seems every shop attendant, interpreter, or tour guide is concerned about it and our reaction. But we have had a blast, regardless. I guess love makes everything sunny anyway.... okay, okay I will try to stick to the facts and leave the dribble to my bed pillow....

My favourite exhibit was Connections: This place and it's early peoples. It was astounding- I was never so proud to be from Newfoundland.

We came face to face with a polar bear on the tundra. We were able look closely at carnivorous plants in a bog. (rivetting to you all I am sure, but believe it or not, our provincial plant is carniverous!)

We could marvel at seabirds, sea mammals, all kinds of sea life. And could 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.

We were very lucky because on view for summer 2008, two of the Rooms' newest and most exciting acquisitions -- painted caribou skin coats that were meticulously hand-crafted by Innu women to ensure a successful hunt for their men.

The coats were made and worn by the Algonquian-speaking people of the Quebec-Labrador peninsula from the St. Lawrence River north to Ungava Bay and from James Bay and Hudson Bay on the West to the Atlantic coast. Surviving examples date from approximately 1700 through the 1930's. Very few of these coats have survived, it was great to have a chance to view this significant part of Innu culture!

While there, we were able to find out more about the people who made these wonderful coats on Tipatshuimuna: Innu Stories from the Land, a website that lets you travel with the Innu and explore their culture.

We were only permitted photos on level 3, which have a few photos above, none unfortunately of the caribou hides.

We had a great day and Juanita especially loved the art gallery (as I knew she would).

Her favourite was Merchant Vessels: Studio Pottery in Newfoundland and Labrador. Merchant Vessels presents a survey of functional ceramics from this region, revealed through the work of six practicing potters. I loved the platters which were mounted, but Juanita just loved the ceramic statues, which, I just did not get at all. (But I am uncultured and uncouth- like my mum whose taste is all in her mouth! haha)

Other than the Musuem, the highlight for me was a collection called: Wonderful Hard Work. Again I could not take photos....

Here in Newfoundland and Labrador we worked to live and lived to work in a physical, social and economic environment, often harsh and overwhelming. Throughout life's daily toil, all the peoples living here over the centuries have demonstrated fortitude and ingenuity in adaptation. "Wonderful Hard Work" is an exhibit highlighting the work of our people and the tools of their trades, past and present.

All in all, a very cool day. Reese was the best behaved "almost 3 year old" I know and I can not believe that a 3yo could spend a half day in a museum and be entertained and so attentive. Partial credit to the Rooms for their spectacular curators for making things so interactive and the rest of the credit to Mandy for being Super-Mum!

Thanks for a wonderful Sunday, folks!