THE ROOMS.
Day 80 – It rained last night and was cool and very foggy this morning – 59 degrees. The high temperature was 73 degrees. It was cloudy or foggy or raining during the day. We headed out at about 10:30 a.m. to drive to The Rooms in St. John’s.
About The Rooms: “A museum, an art gallery, and spectacular harbor views are wrapped up together in this magnificent complex showcasing the very best of everything Newfoundland and Labrador.” from Moon Handbooks, Atlantic Canada, 5th Edition, 2009
“Newfoundland and Labrador’s largest public cultural space and home to its most extensive collection of artifacts, art and archival records. We bring the province’s rich stories to life.” from the Newfoundland/Labrador Traveller’s Guide 2023
“One of Canada’s finest cultural facilities, The Rooms combines the provincial museum, art gallery, and archives under one roof. Styled on the simple oceanfront “fishing rooms” where Newfoundlanders would process their catch, this complex is anything but basic. Sitting on the site of a 1750s fort, from a distance it is nothing short of spectacular to see the ultra-modern ‘rooms’ rising above the rest of the City like a mirage. The interior is no less impressive, with huge windows allowing uninterrupted views across the city and harbor. Displays in the museum component encompass the entire natural and human history of Newfoundland and Labrador, from glaciation to modern-day cultural diversity. The art gallery spreads across two floors. More than 7,000 works of art are displayed, with touring exhibits adding to the artistic mix. If you are a history buff with time to spare, include a visit to the archives, which contain more than 500,000 historic photos, plus government and shipping records, maps and atlases, family histories and personal diaries.” from Moon Handbooks, Atlantic Canada, 5th Edition, 2009
We had a good time. The Rooms consisted of four floors each with many rooms, off of rooms. The top three floors alternated between art exhibits and historical displays. It was very interesting. There were floor-to-ceiling windows on much of the top floor which offered excellent views of the City and the Harbor. They also had a nice gift store and a Cafe serving breakfast and lunch. And the food was surprisingly good. It wasn’t very crowded even though it was a Saturday in the summer season. Pictures follow.
We put a lot of mileage on our shoes today, and will probably sleep quite well tonight. That is, IF the noisy neighbors don’t keep us awake. That’s summer when school is out!
What we do the next two days depends largely on the weather. We’re leaving here on Tuesday for a different Provincial Park, and still have plenty to do from here to keep us busy.