Salvage, Newfoundland and Labrador
Step inside the Lane/Heffern House and explore Salvage through fishing heritage, family histories, schooners, textiles, music, craft, and everyday life.
Tuesday to Saturday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The museum is located in a historic house. The upstairs rooms are reached by narrow stairs with short treads, and some visitors may not be able to access the second floor. Please ask staff for assistance or for information about upstairs exhibits.
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Walk through an 1860s home that became one of Newfoundland and Labrador's oldest community museums.
Learn how cod, schooners, fishing marks, stages, and harbour work shaped family and community life.
Meet the makers, knitters, storytellers, volunteers, and families who kept Salvage's knowledge alive.
Indigenous peoples used and occupied the Salvage area for thousands of years, with archaeological evidence in the region dating back about 5,000 years.
European migratory fishermen were drawn to the cod grounds of Bonavista Bay. The name Salvage is believed to come from Salvaje, likely used by Basque fishermen.
Charles Lane builds the original small square house, beginning what would become the Lane/Heffern House.
Owner Charles Lane expands the house to make room for his wife and future family.
Charles Lane marries Adelaide Brown. Together, they raise their two children in the house.
Wilfred and Ida Jane Heffern purchase the property so their children can attend the local school. The family lives in the house before building a new home next door.
The Salvage Fisherman's Museum opens to the public. Previous owners Wilfred and Ida Jane Heffern become its first curators.
After years of care by Heber, Garland, Bessie, and later Art Heffern, the museum closes when the family is no longer able to maintain it.
The museum reopens thanks to local committee work, roof repairs, and improvements to the entrances and interior.
The Lane/Heffern House receives Registered Heritage Structure designation for its historic and aesthetic value.
The museum undergoes restoration with support from Heritage NL, government funding, the Town of Salvage, and the Salvage Fisherman's Museum Committee.
The museum continues to preserve community stories, artifacts, craft, and maritime knowledge.
Every donation helps care for artifacts, maintain exhibits, and keep local stories available for future generations.
Support the Museum