Contemporary art, history, maritime heritage, natural sciences, industrial heritage… whatever your interests, you’ll find many museums and interpretation sites in Eastern Québec that will satisfy your thirst for knowledge. Here are a few worth visiting!

Lighthouses and maritime heritage

History buffs will enjoy visiting the Pointe-au-Père Maritime Historic Site near Rimouski, in Bas-Saint-Laurent. Besides the lighthouse, which was built in 1909 and is one of the tallest in Canada, the site features a museum dedicated to the sinking of the Empress of Ireland off Pointe-au-Père on May 29, 1914. You’ll also want to visit the Onondaga, a 90-metre (300-foot) submarine, which offers a 45-minute audio tour that simulates going out to sea off Rimouski.

Among the many interesting aspects of the region’s maritime history, did you know that an important battle between France and England for possession of the North American continent occurred in Gaspésie? This naval battle, called the Battle of the Restigouche, took place on July 8, 1760. The French were defeated, sealing the fate of New France. The Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site presents a fascinating exhibition that includes vestiges of a French frigate recovered from the bottom of Chaleur Bay.

In the more recent past, North America’s first marine wireless station was built in 1904 by Marconi in Pointe-à-la-Renommée (Fame Point), also in Gaspésie. Offering two exhibitions, the Pointe-à-la-Renommée Historic Site presents the lives of the wireless operators as well as of the lightkeepers and their families. An interesting fact: the lighthouse spent 20 years in exile in the Port of Québec City before being returned to its original site.

Built in 1907, Matane’s Lighthouse and Maritime Museum can be explored during a guided or self-guided tour. Learn about the history of this sentinel of the sea, its preservation and its lightkeepers, and soak up a breathtaking view of the water and city from the top of the tower!

Cultural mosaic and history

First Nations peoples have lived in our regions for thousands of years. Côte-Nord boasts many recognized archeological sites, making it one of the most studied regions of Québec. Be sure to stop at the Centre Archéo-Topo, in Les Bergeronnes, for an introduction to Indigenous archaeology and prehistory or to deepen your knowledge on these subjects. The digs carried out on this site have revealed evidence of coastal inhabitation dating back some 8000 years.

When Europeans arrived in the 16th century, what is now Gaspésie was home to the Mi’gmaq First Nation. Located on the north side of Gaspé Bay, the Micmac Interpretation Site of Gespeg will introduce you to the customs and way of life of this Nation with a faithful reconstruction of a 17th-century traditional village and summer camp.

Trading posts were the centre of economic life in the colony. In Côte-Nord, you can visit the Chauvin Trading Post in Tadoussac, a replica of Canada’s first fur-trading post, established in 1600 by Pierre de Chauvin de Tonnetuit. The replica of the original building was built in 1942 using the dimensions recorded by Samuel de Champlain, the father of New France. You can also visit the Old Trading Post in Sept-Îles, an interpretation site that recreates daily life in a 19th-century fur-trading post based on encounters between the Innu and Euro-Canadian cultures over time.

In Gaspésie, the Birthplace of Canada is centred around a reconstruction of the heart of the village of Gaspé as it was in 1900. You can wander from building to building, including a warehouse, tavern, residence and navy base, to learn more about people’s lives at that time through interpretation areas, artefacts and historical re-enactments. If you’re a fan of such reconstructions, you’ll also want to visit the Paspébiac National Historic Site, which will take you back to the 18th and 19th centuries when the fishing industry in Gaspésie was controlled by two large companies, Robin and Le Boutillier. Watch interpreters demonstrate traditional tasks and explore the 11 period buildings, including the largest wooden structure in North America, built between 1838 and 1840.

Speaking of the two major companies that reigned over this region, the Manoir Le Boutillier National Historic Site of Canada in L’Anse-au-Griffon, on the north side of the Gaspé Peninsula, is a mansion originally owned by John Le Boutillier, a major cod exporter, who used it as a residence and office. The many artefacts as well as the costumed interpreters’ explanations will take you back to the 19th century, at the height of the cod fishery in this area.

While you’re in the Paspébiac and Bonaventure areas, you might notice that the locals have a slightly different accent. That’s because of the Acadian origins of a large part of the population in the La Baie-des-Chaleurs sector. It’s not surprising then that Bonaventure is home to the Musée Acadien du Québec, a museum that tells the story of the Acadians in the province and offers many cultural and educational activities to introduce you to their rich heritage.

In Pabos Mills, visit Parc du Bourg de Pabos to learn about life in an 18th-century seigneury. Thanks to artefacts recovered during archaeological digs, you’ll be taken back in time to the days of New France in the company of various local families.

While you’re in the Matapédia Valley, be sure to stop and visit the Matamajaw Fishing Heritage Site in Causapscal. Founded in 1873, this former private fishing club hosted many dignitaries, prominent businessmen and members of the British royal family during the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, visitors can tour the heritage buildings to learn more about the rich history of Atlantic salmon fishing in this area as well as enjoy an immersive audio experience.

In the Îles de la Madeleine, several museums showcase interesting chapters of local history. For example, you can visit the Entry Island Historical Museum, which offers a unique glimpse into the history of this island known as the “pearl at the heart of the Gulf of St. Lawrence”; the Veterans Museum, which honours the brave men and women from the Islands who fought in the Second World War; and the Little Red Schoolhouse, which presents the history of the Islands’ English-speaking community. After visiting these three sites, you’ll have a much better understanding of the Islands’ history!

Located at the border of Bas-Saint-Laurent and Gaspésie, the Reford Gardens are some of the largest gardens in North America. History buffs will be interested in the exhibition found in Estevan Lodge, which paints a fascinating picture of the daily lives of the gardens’ creator, Elsie Reford, her family and their employees. The exhibition will also give you a different perspective on these beautiful gardens that showcase some 3000 plant species and varieties including the famous Himalayan blue poppy.

Visit Fort Ingall, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, to explore the past in the company of British soldiers. This authentic reconstruction of a British campaign fortress built in Témiscouata in 1839 will allow you to learn more about the border conflict between the United States and Canada at that time. Fascinating exhibitions, cannon-firing demonstrations and various workshops are all on the agenda. You can even learn how to handle a musket, the type of weapon used by the soldiers at the time, as well as fire the cannon yourself!

In Rivière-du-Loup, the Musée du Bas-Saint-Laurent presents a number of exhibitions, including a permanent one featuring over 500 historical photos that will introduce you to the region’s history, people and culture. Nearby, Fraser Manor invites you to step back in time as you visit a 19th-century seigneurial residence. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the daily lives of the manor’s residents, a bourgeois family who had a major impact on the town’s development.

Natural history

The maritime regions of Québec feature unique geology and very varied ecosystems. The Percé UNESCO Global Geopark invites you to travel 500 million years back in time with Tektonik, an interactive multimedia adventure that showcases the fascinating geological history of Gaspésie. You can also go back all the way to prehistory at Parc national de Miguasha, which is on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List for its unusually well-preserved fossils. The museum’s permanent exhibition presents some of the most beautiful fossil specimens in Québec, dating from about 380 million years ago. Have a look at the fossil-rich cliff by following the 3.5-km (2-mi.) “Evolution of Life” trail.

If you’re more interested in biology than geology, visit the Bioparc de la Gaspésie, a wildlife park where you can discover about 40 animal species indigenous to the region along with some 70 plant species. Children will remember their visit to the petting farm for years to come! Visitors of all ages will be impressed by the Bioparc’s collection of living and preserved insects. Extend your stay by spending the night in a cottage on site and enjoy the various interpretive activities offered in the evenings.

In Côte-Nord, be sure to visit Grande Basque Island, in the Sept Îles Archipelago, to appreciate the beauty of local geography, wildlife and plants, and unravel the mysteries of the marine environment during interpretive activities with a naturalist guide. Further west, Parc Nature de Pointe-aux-Outardes is located in a unique setting: a sandy point that juts out into the sea between two legendary rivers, the Manicouagan and the Outardes. The site also stands out for its biodiversity, as nine distinct ecosystems are found within the park’s boundaries. Visiting this nature park is a real feast for the senses!

In Cacouna, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, Parc côtier Kiskotuk invites you to discover a coastal area made up mountains, islands and marshes. Read the interpretive panels along the hiking trails in this park to learn more about local history, plants and wildlife.

Economuseums

Most people have heard of maple syrup and other maple products, but how much do you know about how they’re made? First Nations peoples tapped sugar maple trees long before the arrival of Europeans. A member of the Artisans at Work economuseum network, Domaine Vallier Robert, in Auclair, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, takes this art to a whole new level by making alcoholic beverages from maple sap using processes they invented. During a guided tour of the facilities, you’ll learn why maple trees produce sap as well as some of the secrets behind the delicious Domaine Vallier Robert products, which you can taste and purchase on site.

Other members of this network in our regions also open their doors to you to introduce you to the traditional processes involved in making cheese, soap, chocolate and more. For example, in the Îles de la Madeleine, the Le Fumoir d’Antan smokehouse and the Fromagerie du Pied-de-Vent cheese factory will tell you all about the art of smoking fishing and making tasty farmstead cheeses, respectively. You can also visit Atkins & Frères, in Gaspésie, to learn more about smoking fish and seafood. Handicraft enthusiasts will want to visit La Maison du Potier, a pottery economuseum located in the Îles de la Madeleine, and Atikuss, a maskisin (moccasin) economuseum in Côte-Nord, which showcases the traditional expertise of Innu artisans.

Marine sciences

Not surprisingly, the sea is ever-present in the maritime regions of Québec. Your vacation here is therefore the perfect opportunity to deepen your knowledge of marine environments. To unravel many of the sea’s best-kept secrets, visit Exploramer in Sainte-Anne-des-Monts, in Gaspésie, where you can discover a variety of exhibitions. If you’re a fan of hands-on activities, dip your fingers into their touch pools to handle live shellfish, crustaceans and echinoderms. And if you have sea legs, be sure to participate in a sea excursion aboard the C-E Marin Exploramer during which you’ll watch crab and whelk traps being hauled in and learn more about the ecosystem of the St. Lawrence.

In Cacouna, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, a visit to the land-based Putep ’t-awt marine mammal observation site will give you the opportunity to find out more about the St. Lawrence belugas. An interpreter guide will use a variety of technologies to teach you all about these fascinating animals. From the observatory on the mountainside, you’ll also be able to admire belugas in their natural habitat, without disturbing them.

On the other side of the St. Lawrence, in Côte-Nord, you’ll find four interpretation centres on marine mammals and their environment. Starting from the west, the first is the Marine Mammal Interpretation Centre (CIMM) in Tadoussac, which provides an excellent introduction to whales and is the perfect complement to a whale-watching excursion. Discover the marine mammals found in the St. Lawrence through unique videos, a skeleton collection and the expertise of the centre’s scientists. Further east is Explos-Nature, in Les Bergeronnes, which offers activities, internships and camps to explore the wonders of marine life in the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Saguenay Fjord through interpretive activities in the field and lab analyses. You’ll learn a lot at this centre while having fun!

A little past Les Bergeronnes, the Cap-de-Bon-Désir Interpretation and Observation Centre invites you to observe whales from the shore and discover an exhibition on the history of the lightkeepers who lived at the Cap-de-Bon-Désir Lighthouse. Finally, the Marine Environment Discovery Centre, in Les Escoumins, offers a permanent exhibition as well as a unique interpretive activity during which you can watch divers in real time on a big screen as they explore underwater near the centre. Equipped with a special mask, they can interact with you and answer all your questions! (This activity is offered in French only, but you’re welcome to ask questions in English.)

Electric power generation

Electric power generation has been—and still is—an important part of the history and economic development of Québec: many major hydroelectric projects have been developed in our regions over the years. If you don’t know much about this industry, a good place to start is by touring the Manic-2 and Manic-5 hydroelectric dams in Côte-Nord. You’ll be impressed by the sheer size of both the Jean-Lesage Dam (Manic-2), one of the world’s largest hollow-joint gravity dams, and the Daniel-Johnson Dam (Manic-5), the world’s largest multiple-arch-and-buttress dam. Still in Côte-Nord, a unique experience awaits you at the Romaine-1 generating station in Havre-Saint-Pierre. Visit three of the station’s levels, walk under a penstock and witness the power of the water used to generate electricity. You can also tour Québec’s largest thermal generating station in the Îles de la Madeleine to learn all about how electric power is produced in the archipelago.

If you’re interested in learning more about wind power, visit Projet Éole in Cap-Chat, in Gaspésie. In addition to touring an experimental power plant built in the 1980s, you can also admire the world’s tallest vertical-axis wind turbine. Don’t miss this opportunity to soak up a 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding area from the turbine’s observation platform.

As you can see, our museums, historic sites and interpretation centres have much to teach you about the natural and cultural realities of our regions while entertaining you at the same time! And we haven’t even mentioned all the activities and events offered in our national parks… All these sites are worth visiting to add a whole new dimension to your vacation in the maritime regions of Québec!