Maritime Museum Displays Champlain Artifacts

As a tribute to this year's Congrès Mondial Acadien, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax today, April 28, unveiled a new display of two rare artifacts from the beginnings of New France.

Featured in the exhibit is a navigational instrument known as an astrolabe. Built in 1603, it was used by Samuel de Champlain in his explorations of New France in the early 1600s. A precursor to the sextant and the octant, it is on temporary loan to the museum from the Canadian Museum of civilization in Ottawa.

The astrolabe is the smallest of 35 mariner's astrolabes surviving from the early 17th century and the only one from France. Lost by Champlain in 1613, it was found by a 14-year-old farm boy named Edward Lee in 1867. The astrolabe was acquired by the Canadian Museum of Civilization from the New York Historical Society in 1989.

In addition to the astrolabe, the display includes a rare map of New France in 1629, the year the French were expelled from the St. Lawrence River valley by the British. On temporary loan from Library and Archives Canada, the map was made by Samuel de Champlain and first published in 1632.

At a time when proof of exploration was indispensable for a European country's claim to an area, Champlain's maps enabled the French to consolidate their claim to Acadia and the St. Lawrence River valley and return to live in these areas after 1632.

"This map is one of the foundation documents of Canada. It reveals the date of European contact and shows how quickly we began to understand the size and richness of this vast country," said Ian Wilson, national archivist.

The astrolabe and map, which will be on display at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic until the end of May, are remarkable objects reflecting the state of European exploration and knowledge of this region four centuries ago. Few explorers were as talented in cartography as Champlain and this early map clearly illustrates his skills.

"An important role for the Maritime Museum is to give Nova Scotians opportunities to see rare objects that are tangible reminders of our marine heritage," says museum director Calum Ewing. "Of those who can claim some credit for the founding of Acadia, Champlain is the most significant. That we have been able to work with our colleagues at the Canadian Museum of Civilization and Library and Archives Canada to showcase these objects during this year in particular is most appropriate."

To complement the exhibit, the museum will also host a talk by John Reid, a professor of history at Saint Mary's University, called The Beginnings of New France. The talk will be held Thursday, April, 29 beginning at 7:30 p.m. and will focus on the importance of both Aboriginal and Acadian history to our current understanding of 17th century developments in the region. Dr. Reid will discuss how the de Monts/Champlain expedition had important consequences for both peoples.

For more information on the Canadian Museum of Civilization see the website at www.civilization.ca. Library and Archives Canada acquires and preserves the cartographic heritage of Canada. For more information see the website at www.archives.ca . Early maps may also be found at the newly launched New France website at www.archivescanadafrance.org .

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is located at 1675 Lower Water St., Halifax. Information on public hours, rates of admission, and public programs can be found on the website at http://maritime.museum.gov.ns.ca .