The Quaco Museum

Our History

St. Martins was settled in 1783 by a detachment of the King’s Orange Rangers– Loyalist soldiers from Orange and Duchess Counties, New York. The detachment had been posted to garrison duty in Nova Scotia at the end of hostilities in the American Revolution of 1776.

<- Emma Marr was built at St. Martins in 1877 by the Marr Family. She was a barque with a registered tonnage of 799 tons.

The Community of Quaco

The original name of the community was “Quaco”, the origin of which is unclear. At least three plausible theories exist. The area west of the village is still named West Quaco.

St. Martins was the second largest producer of wooden sailing vessels in New Brunswick and the third largest in the Maritimes.

Between 1803 and 1900 over 500 vessels were built and launched in over a dozen shipyards along the beaches, coves and rivers in and around St. Martins. Lumbering was also an important industry locally and a great deal of it was required to construct vessels of the size turned out by local shipyards.

The vessels built here sailed all over the world and brought back ideas and architectural designs which the Captains, wealthy shipbuilders and mariners applied to the construction of their own homes. Those who could afford it (and there were many), brought artisans from abroad who painted wall and ceiling murals in their homes. At the height of the shipbuilding era St. Martins was often referred to as “the richest village in the British Empire”.

The Museum

The Quaco Museum and Library opened in July 1978. The Museum contains the permanent collection of artifacts and other material relating to the rich shipbuilding heritage and history of the Quaco – St. Martins area.

<- Prince Leopold was built at St. Martins in 1868 by the Moran Family. She was ship classed and had a registered tonnage of 1,308 tons (original painting by William H. Davison )

Around the World

Ships built in St. Martins sailed around the world for decades bringing prosperity to New Brunswick, and now, 147 years later, a piece of marine art history has been brought back home to Saint Martins. Join the Quaco Museum and experience the restored figurehead from the ship – The Prince Victor.

Collections Policy

The Quaco Museum collects, conserves and displays objects that give insight to the heritage of the St. Martins area. Gifts of such objects to the Museum are always welcome, but must be made without condition, giving the Quaco Historical and Library Society ownership of the item. The Museum also accepts loans of objects for interpretation and display. Such loans are for a stated duration. We cannot accept loans for indefinite periods.