Bear River Heritage Museum

Old Postcard Looking West in Bear River

The Bear River Heritage Museum is located in the town of Bear River. It is operated by the Bear River Historical Society which is the oldest established officially registered society for the preservation of Bear River's heritage. They are a volunteer group who treasure the memories of the past and are devoted to saving the heritage of the village.

For thousands of years before the first European visited this scenic glacial valley the Mi'kmaq people lived here. They travelled the tidal river they called "L'sitkuk Elsetuk" to the Bay of Fundy for fish and clams. They travelled the deep woods hunting the game. It was a simple life of survival.

Then around 1605 - 09 one of Champlain's supply ships took refuge behind an island in the Annapolis Basin during a severe winter storm. The commander of the ship, Simon Imbert was so impressed with the river he found himself in after the storm that he followed it up to the head of the tide. He reported his find and the river became known as the Imbert until the English settled here in 1755 and shortened the name to Bear.

After the American War of Independence many United Empire Loyalist came to Nova Scotia. Several settled in the area of Port Royal, but with unrest there many of these came to settle in this area.

In 1783 German mercenaries known as Waldecians and Hessians came to settle in this area. Due to the lack of level land many of the

  An Old Postcard of Bear River, c1910;

buildings in the downtown area had to be built on piers and stilts, or on artificially created land supported by retaining walls.

Ship building and lumbering became the two main industries and many piers were built to accommodate ships with cargos to trade with the West Indies, England and North America. By the 1890's Bear River had six shipyards and six lumber mills. This was a booming time as the population was only about 1200 at this time.

The town started to grow on both sides of the river and up on the hills. Visitors to the area started to refer to the village as "The Switzerland of Nova Scotia" or just "Little Switzerland".

Sawmills and woodworking companies started being built and companies started making several different products like hogshead staves and barrels for sugar and apples.

But the end of the age of sail brought an end to much of this for the area and logging was the main industry in the early 1900's. There was even a pulp mill built by the Clarke family out at the head of the river from 1919 to 1920. But the failure of this pulp mill and a huge lumber mill was a large blow to Bear River.

Today Bear River’s largest industry is the tourist who visits the area each year. The citizens got together to revise their village and spruce it up for the tourist. They did a waterfront

Old Postcard Showing a Street in Bear River  

development project adding Peace Park with picnic tables overlooking the river. They moved the old windmill down to this area and turned it into the tourist information centre.

In the last decade there has been an influx of people falling in love with this beautiful little village with it's tidal river and they have started to move here. Several of these new citizens either already were or have become artist and the village is becoming well known for it many fine art galleries. They definitely add much to this pretty little village.

As mentioned the Bear River Historical Society run the Bear River Heritage Museum. It is located on River Road in the middle of town next to the Post Office. The building that houses the museum was once the site of the first "green lantern" shows and so was called the Green Lantern Building.

The Bear River Heritage Museum features many displays showing the history of this little village and the surrounding area. The displays include a large one on the ship building industry as this was one of the most prosperous industries for this area. They also have areas devoted to agriculture, social, community, education, household and native Mi'kmaq. They change and up date their displays as new acquisitions are acquired.

They are open daily in July & August and by appointment at other times. There is a small admission fee charged at the door.

To learn more about the Bear River Heritage Museum or to contact them visit their website: Bear River Heritage Museum.

Leave The Bear River Heritage Museum and return to see other Annapolis Valley Museums