Our Collection
Artifacts, photographs, records, handmade tools, and community memory held in public trust.
The Salvage Fisherman's Museum is a community museum focused on conserving and sharing the stories, landscape, and way of life in Salvage through the centuries. As one of the oldest community museums in the province, the museum continues a half-century long legacy preserving and perpetuating intergenerational storytelling practices, traditional skills and crafts, and local landscape and maritime knowledge, including the historic lifeways of fishermen and their families in the region, and Salvage's shared history of migrations and networks with other communities on the Eastport Peninsula and nearby islands.
Fishing gear, schooner stories, local fishing maps, hand tools and other artifacts connected to the work of the harbour.
Furniture, lighting, heating, kitchen tools, clothing, bedding, and everyday objects from families who lived and worked in Salvage.
Knitting, lacemaking, embroidery, cabinetry, broom making, woodworking, and handmade objects that demonstrate the skills and resourcefulness of the residents.
Historic photographs, family histories, church records, and other archival documents connected to Salvage and the Eastport Peninsula.
Some objects are used for learning, demonstrations, and hands-on activities so visitors can better understand traditional materials and skills. We also have a collection of books available for visitors to view.
Many artifacts were donated or loaned by residents and descendants, reflecting what the community itself considered important to preserve.
Because storage, conservation, and documentation resources are limited, donations and loans are reviewed before they are accepted into the collection.
Please contact the museum first. Helpful information includes who owned or used the item, where it came from, dates or family connections, photographs, and any explanation of its significance. Note that we have little capacity for new acquisitions at this time.
Visitors interested in church records, community history, or other archival documents are encouraged to ask staff or volunteers for help. Some resources are available on site.