About Us

The Yarmouth County Museum is a distinguished community museum incorporated in 1958 in the town of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, under the auspices of the Yarmouth County Historical Society. The Historical Society was formed in 1935 to collect and preserve historical data, records and objects of interest, to erect historical markers, and generally to promote interest in Yarmouth County history.

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Society Mission

The aims of the Yarmouth County Historical Society are:

• to collect and preserve historical data, records and objects of all kinds, primarily of Yarmouth County, or relating to the history thereof;

• to erect, or promote and support the erection of markers, monuments, gardens, parks or other memorials commemorating events and personages in the history of Yarmouth County;

• to establish, maintain and operate, or promote an establishment, maintenance, and operation of a public museum in Yarmouth County, for the housing, care, preservation and display of historical objects and records;

• in general to promote and carry on the work, objects, and purposes of a historical society, or incidental thereto.

 

Recognition and Awards

The museum and archives' accomplishments have set the standard in the field for other institutions of its size:

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1962: The Canadian Historical Association awards the Certificate of Merit to the society for its outstanding contribution to local history in Canada.

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1982: The American Association for State and Local History presents the museum with an Award of Merit for its collections and exhibitions programs.

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1989: The Canadian Parks Service Heritage Award is presented to the museum - one of only ten awards given that year, and the only one presented to a museum.

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1997: The Phyllis Blakeley Award is presented to the archives from the Council of Nova Scotia Archives in recognition of an outstanding contribution to archives in Nova Scotia.

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2000: The Carman V. Carroll Award is presented to the society from the Council of Nova Scotia Archives for outstanding achievement in archival preservation.

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2001: The society received the Canadian Museum Association's "Outstanding Achievement Award in the Museum Management Category."

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2009: The Communities in Bloom Committee of the Town of Yarmouth recognized the museum for its contribution to the town's achievement of five blooms.

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2010: The Communities in Bloom Committee of the Town of Yarmouth recognized the museum for its contribution to the town's achievement of five blooms and the National Heritage Conservation Award.

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2010: The Western Counties Regional Library recognized the museum and archives for their incredible performance during the Adopt-A-Book April Fool's Trivia Challenge.

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2017: Best Museum. Yarmouth and Acadian Shores, Best of YAS awards.

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2018: Best Museum. Yarmouth and Acadian Shores, Best of YAS awards.

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2023: The Dr. Phyllis Blakeley for outstanding accomplishment in archival work. For the project, Archival Packages.

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2024: Best Garden Selection award for the Pelton-Fuller House from Communities in Bloom.

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