The Victoria Community Development Corporation

Conception Bay Museum
Water Street, Harbour Grace. Newfoundland

* 1.5 hours from St. John's
* Open June - September,
7 days a week, 10 am - 5 pm
* Arrange guided tours for groups
* open in off season by appointment
* Combined visit to other Hr. Grace attractions

Contact Information:
Peggy Fahey, Curator
P.O. Box 298
Hr. Grace, NF. A0A 2M0
Phone: (709) 596-5465
Off season:(709) 596-1309
Email: pfahey@conceptionbaymuseum.nf.ca
Web Site: www.hrgrace.ca/museum.html
Town of Harbour Grace: www.hrgrace.ca

Ports in Conception Bay have long rivaled St. John's for mercantile and marine dominance of Newfoundland. Hr. Grace was once the dominant business and political centre in the Bay. Starting in the 1500's, Pirate Peter Easton raided Spanish Galleons from his base in Hr. Grace until he was finally pardoned (twice) by King James I. In the second half of the 19th century the prominent Hr. Grace merchant houses such as Ridley and Munn, controlled a large part of the islands fishing and sealing business. The world's attention was focused on the town in 1932 when aviator Amelia Earhart took off from Newfoundland's first Airport in Hr. Grace to be the first women to fly solo across the Atlantic "pond." This airfield is visited by small planes today.

The Conception Bay Museum, is a former 1870's Custom House situated in the Heritage District of Hr. Grace. Students on a guided tour will see artifacts, photographic equipment, old photos, 19th century furniture, fishing boat models, and a aviation room depicting the history of Hr. Grace Airstrip. Individuals or groups interested in pirate Easton's exploits can visit the Museums' Easton Room or arrange to take a harbour boat tour to where he lost the Galleon St. Malo or to Easton Rock where 47 of his men were drowned while being chased by the French fleet..

Located in Harbour Grace. Turn right off the Trans Canada at Route 70 onto the Baccalieu Trail.

Learning Resources for the Conception Bay Museum in Harbour Grace.