Exhibits

SUMMER 2023

Communications in Kings County of the Past

Come see our amazing collection of old phones on loan from Bovaird Telecom, leaf through Kings county Records from the 1960's, kids can try their hand at cursive writing and check out the typewriters. 

In addition, a fireplace mantel from Ryan's Castle, a historic Hampton home which burned in the mid 1960's remains on display, as does the Confederation Quilt and a 1910 cash register.  We have themed display cases of stereoscopes, the County weights and measures, bells, indigenous artifacts and so much more. 

Don't miss a visit to the old Kings County Gaol (Jail).  If family and local history research is your thing, our genealogy/research room is fully open this summer. Our bookstore has many titles of local history for yourself or as gifts for those hard to by family members who have an interest in local history. Many of the books are not available anywhere else.

SUMMER 2022

Kick up your heels as we celebrate the Roarin' Twenties. Learn about the dress, the culture, the music and more. 

In addition, last year's new additions to our collection of a fireplace mantel from Ryan's Castle, a historic Hampton home which burned in the mid 1960's, and a 1910 cash register remain on display if you missed them last year.  We have themed display cases of the Queen's Jubilee, typewriters from the past, china and kitchen items and indigenous artifacts and so much more. 

Don't miss a visit to the old Kings County Gaol (Jail).  If family and local history research is your thing, our genealogy/research room is fully open this summer. Our bookstore has many titles of local history for yourself or as gifts for those hard to by family members who have an interest in local history. Many of the books are not available anywhere else.

SUMMER 2021

This summer walk through our covered bridge entrance and explore childhood of the past  at our "Yesterday's Child" exhibit.  See the clothing, the toys, dolls, furniture and much more that our ancestors experienced. There are a number of samplers on display as well as the "Snowball Quilt" which contains over 11,000 individual pieces and was made by an 11 year old Kings County girl. We also have a desk and books from a rural one-room schoolhouse, and you can even play a quick game of schoolyard hopscotch while you are here! 

Two new additions to our collection  this year are a fireplace from Ryan's Castle, a historic Hampton home which burned in the mid 1960's, and a 1910 cash register. Both are on display this year.

The old Kings County Gaol (Jail) is also open this summer after a refresh that includes a cell set up as it would have been at the time of closure in 1971.  And if family and local history research is your thing, our genealogy/research room is fully open this summer. For the gaol and research room we do require you wear a community face mask. Don't worry if you forget to bring one, we have some disposables available. 

SUMMER 2020

Our covered bridge entrance will lead you to our display of lovely brides from late 19th century through to mid-twentieth century.  These dresses were all worn by Kings County Brides, sometimes by more than one generation in the same family. Enjoy our display of wedding accessories, silver for the dinner table, and a selection of ladies' fans as well. 

Much of our covered bridge exhibit from last year remains on display as well, and we continue to have our maps showing all the current covered bridges still in existence in Kings County, so if you missed it last year you have another chance to see it. 

Summer 2019

 Walk through our newly constructed covered bridge into the Kings County of yesteryear. This year we are celebrating the Covered Bridges of New Brunswick, and most particularly of Kings County. In 1944 New Brunswick had 320 covered bridges, today there are 58, of which 15 are in Kings County.  See the tools that were used in the building of the bridges, learn the lore of the "kissing bridges", and experience a rural home of the early 20th century, the era in which our remaining covered bridges were built. While you are here, make time for a visit to the Old Kings County Gaol (Jail), built in 1840 in Kingston and hauled and reassembled in Hampton 30 years later!