McCulloch House Museum Re-opens

McCulloch House Museum in Pictou will celebrate its re-opening on Sunday, Aug. 20, with an afternoon tea and tours of a new interactive exhibit about Thomas McCulloch.

Rev. Dr. McCulloch was a presbyterian minister, educator, amateur naturalist, political reformer and writer. He established Pictou Academy and was the first principal of Dalhousie College in Halifax.

"This museum is an important heritage resource for Pictou and for all Nova Scotians," said Tourism, Culture and Heritage Minister Len Goucher. "It has a place in the provincial museum system because Thomas McCulloch's activism and efforts to improve education in the early 1800s continue to influence the lives of Nova Scotians."

Rev. Dr. McCulloch's personal legacy is a lasting and positive one. He contributed to the idea of broad, liberal education for all Nova Scotians and Canadians. His story is also a gateway to understanding Scottish heritage in the province over the past 250 years.

The McCulloch House Museum has been closed for structural repairs and improvements to exhibits since the late 1990s. The Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage invested $50,000 in renewing interpretation at the museum. The museum's local management group and other partners also contributed.

"We received generous funding assistance from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Town of Pictou and the Municipality of the County of Pictou," said Murray Hill, president of the Pictou County Genealogical and Heritage Society. "We couldn't have done this without the support of the generous people of Pictou and our community volunteers."

Mr. Hill noted that society members who authored the publication Slates to Computers, donated the proceeds to the McCulloch House revitalization.

McCulloch House Museum is part of the Nova Scotia Museum and is located at 100 Haliburton Rd., Pictou. It is open daily until Oct. 15. Hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is charged.

The re-opening event takes place on Sunday, Aug. 20, at 2 p.m. with an official program, refreshments, and tours of the new permanent exhibit. Everyone is invited to attend. There is no admission charge on the day of the re-opening celebration.