Giant Celebration in Tatamagouche

There's going to be a giant celebration in Tatamagouche. The Northumberland Arts Council is officially opening newly expanded exhibits at the Anna Swan Museum on Friday, Oct. 15, at 2:30 p.m.

Born outside Tatamagouche in 1846, Anna Swan was a giantess who achieved fame worldwide performing with P.T. Barnum's American Museum in New York City. She weighed 18 pounds at birth and grew to a height of seven feet and 11 inches. While on tour overseas, she met and eventually married Martin Van Burren Bates, known as the Kentucky Giant.

The Anna Swan Museum, housed in the Fraser Cultural Centre on Main Street, has been part of the community for 15 years. The expansion of the museum's exhibits over the past year is helping Tatamagouche to build on its strength as a tourism community on the Sunrise Trail.

"We are very excited about the most recent additions to the Anna Swan Museum," said June Milligan, designer and co-ordinator of the museum. "We now have authentically proportioned replicas of Anna Swan and her husband, Captain Bates. Everyone will have fun with the hands-on display area where visitors can see Anna-size items and stand on giant-size footprints."

The museum also includes a video of Swan's life, an extensive collection of memorabilia and photographs, and a large mural of her home and surroundings. Dale Swan, the great-grandnephew of the giantess, provided a large collection of items including photographs of Anna Swan, her family and her friends from the circus. Several Nova Scotia artisans created and dressed the life-like replicas of Swan and her husband.

"The Anna Swan Museum is sure to attract visitors from all over and the economic benefits will be a tremendous asset to the community," said Bernie Boudreau, Leader of the government in the Senate and Minister responsible for Nova Scotia, on behalf of George Baker, Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

The Anna Swan Museum expansion project received $25,000 through the Sunrise Trail Enhancement Project of the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification. The agreement is managed by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Nova Scotia Economic Development.

"Tourism is a billion-dollar industry in Nova Scotia and the people of Tatamagouche are taking advantage of it," said Bill Langille, MLA for Colchester North, on behalf of Economic Development Minister Gordon Balser. "With upgraded museums and events facilities, this community now has a greater capacity for hosting activities that will draw tourists to the village and bring more revenues for local business."

The museum is one of many community-based attractions designed to increase tourism along the Sunrise Trail. Other projects in Tatamagouche include the Walchia Fossil Interpretation Centre and the Tatamagouche Creamery Centre, which received $25,000 each through the trail enhancement project. The Tatamagouche Creamery Playhouse, which is the second phase of the Creamery Centre project, received $21,000. The Nova Scotia Adventurer's Companion, which received assistance under the COOPERATION agreement, has also been developed as an interpretive guide to the Sunrise Trail Heritage Tour.

For more information on the Anna Swan Museum, visit the Fraser Cultural Centre website at www.tata.ns.ca/tourist.html or call 902-657-3285.

AUX REDACTEURS EN CHEF: Ce communique est egalement disponible en francais; appeler 902-424-4492 ou c. elec. [email protected] .