Our Room At The Top

When the museum first open ed in 1958, the third floor which at one time functioned as an apartment for the caretaker of the Post Office/Customs House became the museum’s storehouse for artefacts. Deemed unsuitable after a number of years, plans were made to construct an off-site artifactory. So in early 2013, demolition and re-construction commenced on the third floor. Plans were to make the space into more exhibition area which was sorely needed.

Construction provided many challenges not the least of which was accessibility. To eliminate construction traffic through the museum and up two flights of stairs, the heavy lifting was accomplished by crane through a third floor window. Many hands finished the work resulting in the grand opening of the third floor in August of the same year.

Here are some photos captured of the action and results.

Work Begins

In Through The Window

Garden-of-the-Gulf-Museum-Third-Floor-Walls bared to the Plaster Lathe

Plaster Removed, Down To The Lathe

Looking Bare

Insulating

Salvaged Douglas Fir Flooring

Garden-of-the-Gulf-Museum-Third-Floor-Gyproced

Walls With Plaster Board

Garden-of-the-Gulf-Museum-Third-Floor-Finished

Finished & Waiting For Exhibits

Garden-of-the-Gulf-Museum-Third-Floor-Contruction Crew

The Construction Crew (l to r):
Jason Cormier, Terry Betts, Donald Sutherland, Roger Kelly, Ryan Chapman

Third Floor Exhibit

When the building was built in 1888 there was an apartment on the third floor. After fifty plus years of being used as a storage room for our many artifacts we have now turned it back into what looks like an apartment. Two rooms filled with amazing artifacts give you a real sense of how life would have been living there. One of our treasured donations is a five piece bedroom set that was a wedding gift in 1881. The View of the Montague River is amazing from those top windows.

Garden-of-the-Gulf-Museum-Third-Floor-View

View from the top on an overcast day – just the right kind of day to visit the Museum!