About
Welcome to 50 Centuries' Cultures Society. A
special and unforgettable experience awaits you
in Bird Cove, Newfoundland and Labrador,
Canada. If the scenery, adventure, hiking trails, exhibits, or archaeological site visits don't win you over, the people sure will!
Our primary goals are to preserve and share our
cultural heritage through a variety of
experiences.
We are open to customizing experiences for our
visitors based on their interests and needs. Just
as we respect the people that lived here before us, we also respect the people that visit us today.
Partnerships are an important part of service delivery, including externally provided services. We are open to partnering with you to enhance the visitors' experience.
What We Offer
Our exhibits are designed to tell the story of Bird Cove through curated displays. Each room invites visitors to explore our community’s past and present.
Begin your tour with a geological overview of our region, then follow a timeline that traces more than 5,000 years of human history along this coast. This remarkable continuity of community, with families living along our coast for five millennia, is the inspiration behind our name: 50 Centuries.
Our tours include the Pre-Contract Period, European History, and Recent History Rooms. In these spaces, guests learn about the lifeways of Indigenous groups such as the Maritime Archaic, Dorset Pre-Inuit, Groswater Pre-Inuit, and Recent Period peoples. Stories of the Basque, English, Irish, and French who worked, or lived, along our shores are also highlighted.
Visitors can also explore artifacts related to Captain James Cook’s 1763–1764 charting of this coastline. And since our museum is housed in a former school, we feature a recreated Schoolroom exhibit complete with a Pot-Belly stove, a replica Cod Trap, and other pieces that bring the past to life.
A Minke Whale skeleton display is also available and showcases the richness of our marine environment.
Our exhibits continue to evolve and will be updated in the coming years. If you have any exhibit questions, please speak with our staff.
Step back in time in our charming Tea Room and enjoy traditional Newfoundland treats along with a selection of teas, coffees, and other beverages, all served in our beautiful vintage teapots and cups.
As you relax and recharge, feel free to browse books written by local residents and project archaeologists, or enjoy slideshows showcasing local scenery, wildlife, and plant life, and take in the lively sounds of Newfoundland’s toe-tapping music.
Before you leave, be sure to check out our craft shop where you will find a beautiful collection of items from local artisans.
Whether you’re looking for a postcard to share your travels, art or jewelry created from local raw materials, cozy knitted goods, or traditional Newfoundland and Labrador souvenirs, you’ll find something special here. Our shop offers a variety of unique items perfect for treating yourself or checking off everyone on your gift list.
Be sure to check out a more detailed look at our craft items on our social media sites at 50 Centuries Interpretation Center. You may email us with requests to have items shipped out if you missed out on something you wanted or just would like more. Check out our contact details below.
Stroll along our scenic trails to experience the same views and natural abundance that attracted people to live or camp here throughout the last 5,000 years. Visit the sites where archaeologists have revealed the traces of earlier communities and deepened our understanding of this region’s long history. Enjoy the curious wildlife and rare plant life - including our provincial flower, the Pitcher Plant. As you meander, you may even meet up with a local, well-loved, horse named Spirit. Hike to James Cook’s Cairn, once used as a triangulation point to help map this area.
Check out geological formations including ancient Algal Mounds, and the Limestone Pavement formation, where you can run your fingers over the striations (scars) which the glaciers left behind as they retreated from this region over 10 000 years ago. Walk up to the Lookout along the French Shore trail and look through the Stationary Binoculars and take in some amazing views of the Strait of Belle Isle where so many have sailed before us. You may explore these scenic trails yourself or request a guided tour in advance. Please email for more detailed information on tour packages available (simple guided walking tours to different outdoor boil up options).
Gallery
A Visual Journey Through Our History, Museum, & Local Scenery.
Visit Us
Welcome to our museum! Plan your visit and dive into the fascinating history of our region. Discover our engaging exhibits, enjoy a relaxing time in our tea room, browse our craft shop, and explore the trails leading to our archaeological sites. Experience the rich heritage and imagine what life was like here many years ago. Contact us for seasonal operation hours and book your tour of this accelerating experience.