The Valley Medical Heritage Museum

An Old Postcard Showing the Provincial Sanitorium, Kentville, NS

The Valley Medical Heritage Museum is located on the third level of the Annapolis Valley Regional Hospital, 150 Exhibition Street in Kentville.

In the early 1950's Dr. J. Earl Hiltz, Medical Superintendent of the Nova Scotia Sanatorium, started to assemble a collection of early hospital documents, artifacts and memorabilia. For years these were displayed in the old Miller Hospital.

This collection was added to by Doctors Helen Holden and John Quinlan who also arranged for a permanent home for the display.

On May 24, 1988 work began on a new valley hospital also to be located in Kentville. The Valley Regional Hospital was built to keep up with the ever changing technology and better meet the needs of the people in the Annapolis Valley. It was opened on April 15, 1992.

With the opening of the new hospital the Blanchard-Fraser Memorial Hospital closed it's doors and was torn down in 1993. Today the Miller Hospital is the only building left of the once huge complex of the Sanatorium.

On October 1, 1995 the Valley Medical Heritage Museum was opened in the Annapolis Valley Regional Hospital. Their displays are a memorial to 125 years of medical care and services in the Annapolis Valley, including an extensive history of the Sanatorium, the Miller and the Blanchard-Fraser Memorial Hospital in the museum.

They have a large photo collection covering aerial photos of the hospitals, special individuals to the Medicare of the valley and events that have happened at all three hospitals. You will also be able to see old medical instruments and tools including an old x-ray machine. Another display shows a collection of crafts made by the patients who stayed in the Sanatorium.

The Valley Medical Heritage Museum also covers the ongoing achievements at the Valley Regional Hospital and history of all the health care institutes and their supporting organizations throughout the valley. Their exhibits are changed on a regular basis.

The museum is located on the third floor of the Valley Regional Hospital, 150 Exhibition Street in Kentville, Nova Scotia.

They are open daily from 8 am until 8 pm.

You may contact them at (902) 678 1904.

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