The Acadian Museum in Bonaventure shows the history of Acadians in the province of Quebec through permanent and temporary exhibitions.
The Acadians were the first French to settle in North America in the 17th century in what is now known as Nova Scotia. The colony repeatedly changed hands between England and France until 1713 when the Utrecht Treaty made it a permanent British possession. The Acadians chose to claim a neutral status, refusing to swear allegiance to the British Crown. In 1755, the British authorities began to dismantle the Acadian colony by deporting its entire population all over the world. During the Deportation, many Acadians made their way into Québec, where they were granted farmlands.
One of the exhibits shows what it was like to be a child in the Gaspé Peninsula in the early 20th century. Families were large and children were considered little adults spending more time working than playing. In the summer, boys spent time working with their Dad, either in the fields or on the beaches. Girls did household work with the Mom. When the children did play, a lot of it was outside, swimming in summer and tobogganing and skating in winter.
