It may surprise you to know the Nova Scotia Museum (NSM) is a piece of history itself.
The network of museums began with just one in 1868 and has grown to 28 sites province-wide in its 150 year history.
That anniversary is being celebrated this year.
Jeff Gray, Curator of Visitor Experiences and Exhibits for the Museum of Natural History, is on the NSM 150 Steering Committee.
He says the milestone will give them a chance to learn about NSM’s past.
“We’re using the year both as an opportunity to look backwards at the 150 years that were and we’re going to go in the next 150 years.”
They’ve brought in outside researchers to help find out more about the sites in the museum family and how they came to be.
They’ll also have anniversary displays at each site so visitors can share their memories of the various museums.
“That people will be able to go to an physically participate in and we’re going to be collecting stories and people’s memories and experiences of visiting Nova Scotia Museum sites,” says Gray.
This exhibit will feature interactive stations for visitors to make suggestions on artifacts and ideas that should become part of the NSM of the future.
It ties into a social media project focused on choosing objects from 2018 to become part of the collection and once the exhibit closes they’ll will be placed in a time capsule for NSM 200.
Gray says they’ve also started a hashtag – #NSM150 for visitors to share their experiences at museums on social media.
The celebrations conclude in October with a museum conference in Halifax where not only museum staff but the public can take part in discussing the future of the Nova Scotia Museum.
NSM 150 launched today which coincides with International Museum Day.
Most museums however, open again for the season in June.
South Shore NSM sites include the Fisheries Museum, Wile Carding Mill, Perkins House, the Dory Shop, and the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre.
Story by Brittany Wentzell
@BrittWentzell