- The Rooms
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The Rooms 
Established 2005 Location St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Type Art Gallery, the Provincial Archives and the Provincial Museum. Website www.therooms.ca/ The Rooms is a cultural facility in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The facility opened in 2005 and houses the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Archives of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador.[1]
On a hill overlooking the port city, it can be seen from almost any point in St. John's. Since its construction, it has competed with its neighbour, Basilica of St. John the Baptist, for the dominance of the St. John's skyline.
Contents
Origins of the name
The building's name, as well as its architecture, is a reference to the simple gable-roofed sheds (called "fishing rooms") that were once so common at the waterline in Newfoundland fishing villages.
History
The Rooms, as viewed from Signal Hill
During the planning and construction of the building much opposition was raised by archaeologists and historians because of its location. Previously on the same strategic spot of land was located Fort Townsend, an 18th-century military fort, that was eventually buried under ground. 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. Careful research and documentation before construction ensured that future study of the site is possible. [2]
The facility was officially opened on June 29, 2005. The building offers a panoramic view of downtown St. John's and its architecture, St. John's Harbour, The Narrows and Signal Hill.
Rooms Provincial Art Gallery
The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery is the premiere public gallery in the province dedicated to developing and exhibiting contemporary art. Since opening in 2005, the gallery has produced an average of 15 exhibitions annually; ranging from new-media installations to Renaissance printmaking. The gallery presents new work from across Canada and the world, with a special (though not exclusive) focus on artists working in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The gallery was previously known as the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador (AGNL), and was located at the St. John's Arts and Culture Centre.
Provincial Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador
The Provincial Museum focuses on the natural and cultural history of Newfoundland and Labrador. Exhibits include dioramas of the animal and plant life of the tundra and bog, mounted bird displays, and the aboriginal people who lived in the area. Other displays include the city's British military history, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, and the culture and contributions of the area's Irish fishermen. Changing exhibits focus on other aspects of the province's history, natural history and culture.
The original Newfoundland Museum was located in a large Classical Revival brick and sandstone building at 285 Duckworth Street in Downtown St. John's.
Location
The museum is located on the former site of Fort Townsend on the corner of Bonaventure Avenue and Harvey Road in downtown St. John's. Metrobus, the city's transit system, through route 15 stops within a 2 minute walking distance of The Rooms' entrance.
External links
Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMA, CHIN, and Virtual Museum of Canada.
References
Coordinates: 47°33′58.45″N 52°42′42.62″W / 47.5662361°N 52.7118389°W
Categories:- Museums in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
- Art museums and galleries in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Natural history museums in Canada
- History museums in Canada
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