On June 14, 2008, the Provincial Seamen�s Museum in Grand Bank experienced a fire that resulted in the museum being closed for the majority of the 2008 season. Due to the quick and effective efforts of the Grand Bank Volunteer Fire Department, the Seamen�s Museum sustained minimal damage. The fire, resulting from an overheated heater fan, was contained to the entrance area, and although there was considerable damage to the foyer windows and smoke damage throughout the building, little damage was done to artifacts and other display items. Additionally, the structure of the building, originally the Yugoslavian Pavilion at Expo 67 in Montreal, was unharmed.

Cleaning of the museum and artifacts is now complete and the staff of the popular Burin Peninsula tourist attraction look forward to a remediation stage which will involve repainting and replacement of the entrance area windows. This work will result in the museum remaining closed for the summer 2009 season. However, despite this scheduled work, the museum will display the exhibition Across the Polar Sea: With Robert E. Peary of the North Pole Expedition through June and July of 2009 at an alternate location.

This special travelling exhibition consists of 33 enlargements of hand-tinted lantern slides used by Donald B. MacMiillan, a crew member of the ship the SS. Roosevelt, one of Robert E. Peary�s vessels. The exhibition will be on loan from the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and additional information will be available at www.therooms.ca during the 2009 summer season.

"We�re both relieved and pleased with the minimal damage sustained at The Provincial Seamen�s Museum" commented Penny Houlden, Director of The Rooms Regional Museums. "In the worst case scenario, we had the best possible outcome: very little damage, especially to artifacts. And now we�re looking forward to a very exciting exhibition for 2009. The staff of the museum will be pleased to welcome residents and tourists to our temporary location and look forward to re-opening in a re-furbished facility in 2010."

Work is beginning now to secure an alternate location in order to continue to offer service to the public and to contribute to the special Celebrating Bartlett 2009 activities being led by the Historic Sites Association of Newfoundland and Labrador.

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Media contact:
Chrysta Collins
Communications Officer
The Rooms
709-757-8091
chrystacollins@therooms.ca