Museums of Inverness County
August 11, 2025
An Drochaid (The Bridge)
11513 Highway 19, Mabou
902-945-2311
maboumuseum.square.site
Facebook: AnDrochaid
Open: Inquire locally for hours of operation.
Housed in a building that was formerly a general store (c.1874), An Drochaid (The Bridge) Museum now serves as a centre for research and local music, Gaelic language activities, cultural activities, local artifacts, and genealogical and historical records. Throughout the year, An Drochaid (The Bridge) hosts a series of ceilidh concerts, storytelling, a Gaelic conversation group and lessons, and music and dance lessons.
Chestico Museum
8095 Route 19, Port Hood (Harbourview)
902-787-2244
chesticoplace.com
Facebook: Chestico Museum
Open: June 2 – October 17, 2025
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays in July and August from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Admission Fees: Person: $2, Family: $5
Free for Members of the Chestico Museum & Historical Society.
The former Harbourview School houses museum artifacts and historical/genealogical records that relate to the early settlers of the Port Hood area. Numerous research projects have been undertaken by volunteers highlighting our World War veterans, war brides, Premier Angus L. Macdonald (who lived in Port Hood in his early years), and local heritage properties.
Celtic Music Interpretive Centre Archives
5471 Route 19, Judique
902-787-2708
www.celticmusiccentre.com
Facebook: CelticMusicCentre
Instagram: celticmusiccentre
Open: May 19 – October 19, 2025
Hours of Operation:
9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday to Friday (Exhibit and Archives), 12 noon – 5 p.m. Sunday (Exhibit)
Admission Fee: $5 for Exhibit Room
The Centre collects documentary records and other archival materials, preserving memories and techniques, and promotes the tradition of Cape Breton music. The Archive houses documents, recordings, videos, photographs, letters, and items significant to the people, communities, and organizations of music tradition in a climate- controlled vault. The Inverness Music Collection is an extensive resource of interviews with fiddlers, dancers, other musicians, and cultural figures. Tours and workshops are available.
Father John Angus Rankin Cultural Centre
4248 Highway 105, Glendale
902-625-3441 or 902-302-1734
Facebook: glendale.community.coop
Open: Inquire locally for hours of operation. Call for an appointment to view by calling 902-302-1734
Housed in the former Glebe House, the centre preserves and promotes the rich heritage of Glendale and surrounding area with local archives, photographs, videos, and audio tapes of historical and cultural significance to the Glendale area. They also host kitchen ceilidhs, weaving classes, Gaelic lessons, accessible outdoor 24/7 Free Little Library, and an Annual Glendale concert July 6th on the outdoor stage. The facility is also a comfort centre in the event of an emergency in the Glendale and surrounding community.
Inverness Miners’ Museum
15932 Central Avenue, Inverness
invernessminersmuseum.com
Facebook: InvernessMinersMuseum
Open: June 1, 2025 to October 20, 2025
Inquire locally for hours of operation.
Admission is $5 per adult, $3 per student/senior
The Inverness Historical Society is dedicated to preserving, communicating, interpreting, and promoting the history, heritage, and culture of the community of Inverness and the surrounding area. The Inverness Miners Museum is situated in the beautiful coastal village of Inverness on and showcases the region’s 19th and 20th-century coal-mining history. They have relocated to an accessible building at 15932 Central Avenue, with parking available at the rear.
Les Trois Pignons
15584 Cabot Trail, Chéticamp
902-224-2642
lestroispignons.com
Facebook: LesTroisPignons
Open: May 12 – October 24, 2025
Hours of Operation:
Every day from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (open until 6 p.m. in July and August)
Admission: $5 for seniors and students, $7 for adults, $15 for a family of four
Visit Les Trois Pignons for a special view into Acadian culture and the history of Chéticamp, a stunning collection of hooked rugs and antiquities, genealogy resource centre and library, and a full range of visitor information services. Guides will be happy to provide information on travel, services, activities, and tourist attractions in the area, as well as a large collection of tourist tips in the form of brochures, maps, guides, etc.
MacDonald House Museum and Heritage Site
3458 Highway 395, East Lake Ainslie
902-258-3317
macdonaldhousemuseum.ca
Open: Inquire locally for hours of operation
MacDonald House Museum overlooks beautiful Lake Ainslie and consists of a restored 1850’s gothic style farmhouse, display barns, a restored one- room schoolhouse, a fine collection of early 1900’s furniture and artifacts, displays of farm machinery and implements, hand woven fabric displays and much more. You can also access the Trans Canada Trail from the museum by a path in the woods.
Margaree Salmon Museum
60 East Big Intervale Road, North East Margaree
902-248-2848
margareesalmonmuseum.ca
Facebook: TheMargareeSalmonMuseum
Open: June 18, 2025
Hours of Operation: Wed – Sun, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Admission is $5 per adult, $2 per child
The Margaree Salmon Museum is located in a former schoolhouse in North East Margaree. It aims to share the rich history of fishing on the Margaree River, a river which is still world renowned for its salmon. The museum also strives to educate visitors on the importance of conservation, in order to ensure the protection of fish stocks for future generations. The museum houses exhibits relating to salmon angling on the river, as well as an excellent collection of fishing tackle, photos and memorabilia of famous anglers.
Mi-Carême Centre
51 Old Cabot Trail Road, Grand-Étang
902-224-1016
micareme.ca
Facebook: lamicareme
Open: June 4, 2025 to October 19, 2025
Wednesday to Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Admission Fees: Adult: (19 to 64) $5
Senior & Student: $4 Child: (5 and under)
Free Family: (2 adults, 2–3 children) $12
The Mi-Carême Centre is the only interpretive centre in Canada dedicated to the wonderfully whimsical Mi-Carême (Mid-Lent) celebration. A team of passionate guides will lead you in discovering the centuries-old fantastic and fun-filled Acadian tradition of the Mi-Carême, which is still celebrated every winter in the Grand Étang area.
Orangedale Railway Museum
1428 Village Road, Orangedale
902-756-3384
Facebook: OrangedaleTrainStationMuseum
Open: July 1 – September 1, 2025
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Tues to Sat
Admission by donation via cash or etransfer
Built in 1886, this classic 19th century Intercolonial Railway styled structure was operational until 1990. The two main buildings are now home to collections of railroad information and artifacts pertaining to the historical and cultural aspects of the Short Line – Main Line through Cape Breton Island. Along with a gift shop, there are several rail cars on site, along with the Station Master’s quarters are open for viewing.
Storytellers Gallery
5663 Highway 19, Judique
Facebook: StorytellersGalleryJudique
Open: Inquire locally for hours of operation.
Located in a heritage building that was once a company house in the nearby community of Port Hood, it was Jack MacDougall’s Store for many years and now preserves and shares the history of Judique and district through the Suidaic Air an Urlar Historical and Cultural Society. On display are historical photographs and local artifacts of the area depicting lifestyles of the past and a collection of family histories.
Strait Area Museum
24 Highway 19, Port Hastings
902-625-1295
sites.google.com/view/strait-area-museum
Facebook: PortHastingsMuseum
Open: May 15 – October 19, 2025
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Saturday & Sunday, 12–4 p.m.
Members of the Port Hastings Historical Society have been preserving the history of the Strait Area with displays on the construction of the Canso Causeway and its impact on the people and communities in the area, model ship display, local history, early 20th century lifestyle, railroads, and ferries. Extensive archives and materials for genealogical research are also available on-site.
Whale Interpretive Centre
104 Harbour Road, Pleasant Bay
902-224-1411
Facebook: whaleintcentre
Open: June 1 – October 25, 2025
Hours of Operation: Daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Admission: Adults $6.50, Seniors & students $5.50, Family $20, group rate (10 plus) $3.50, Bus rates $2.50. The Whale Centre is a fun and educational space for all ages with various exhibits on the 16 whale species sighted here in Cape Breton. Visitors of all ages can hear the whales and see a 3D life size model of a pilot whale while enjoying amazing harbor, beach, ocean, and mountain views. Information is displayed on local fishing and wildlife, trails, and businesses in the area.