Cabinet of Curiosities

Date: Jan 28
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Where: Theatre
Coffee and Culture

Discover the history of our provincial museum as Curator of History, Maureen Peters shares items from the original Newfoundland Museum collection.

The first “cabinet of curiosities” in Newfoundland was in a St. John’s tavern owned by watchmaker, Simon Solomon in 1817. In 1849 a museum committee formed and in 1907 the Newfoundland Museum opened on Duckworth Street under curator James Howley.

During the Commission of Government in the 1930s the museum closed until the 1950s. The collection was dispersed but an original inventory provides a glimpse at what was lost and what remains. These artifacts give us an idea of what was collected in the past and what was important to the early museum.

Tickets are the cost of admission and can be purchased in person at the admission desk or by calling 757-8090. Seats are limited.

We ask for your cooperation in complying with COVID-19 recommend protocols.

• Contact information will be collected when tickets are purchased and must reflect the person attending the event. Should the ticket be used by someone else please have them contact Visitors Services to update the contact information associate with that ticket.
• Tickets are numbered and seats cannot be changed.
• Masks must be worn at all times when moving throughout the building but can be removed once the program has commenced.