New Brunswick boasts over 100 museums and heritage sites. As part of our Museum Road Trip summer series, CBC News is showcasing eight historical places in small towns.
St. Martins has a long history tied to the sea. Today, it is a popular Bay of Fundy destination offering visitors a coastal experience. However, a century ago, the town thrived on shipbuilding, a major source of income.
According to Carmel Vivier, the museum director, shipbuilding was a vital industry in St. Martins. The town saw the construction of 500 ships along a four-kilometre stretch of the Bay of Fundy, surpassing Saint John in ships built per capita.
The first ship in St. Martins, named the Rachel, was constructed in 1803 by Rachel Vaughn during her husband’s absence. Despite a rocky start with the Rachel’s launch, the shipbuilding tradition in St. Martins began with Vaughn’s determination.
Ships in St. Martins were launched from the shore using cradles due to the absence of large berths. The launch of the Rachel faced challenges, but it eventually succeeded with the rising tide.
An exhibit at the museum features the impressive figurehead of the Prince Victor, a ship built in 1870. The figurehead, over seven feet tall, hints at the size of the vessel, which unfortunately sank in the Severn River.
The figurehead of the Prince Victor spent decades in a Bristol plum tree before being restored and returned to St. Martins in 2016. The Quaco Museum in Fundy-St. Martins is now open to visitors Wednesday through Sunday, including holiday Mondays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.