Historic Places Still Open in September!
So September is almost here and some of the Island's usual "tourist" destinations are emptying out. Now that they won't be as crowded, I wanted to look at some places that are still open in September and October that you may want to check out before they close for the season!
Lighthouses
The view from the top of a lighthouse is amazing... as long as you make it to the top, if you are scared of heights or steep staircases/ladders then they may not be your thing. But, even if you do not go to the top, they are still beautiful to look at and many have wonderful views from the ground as well. Many Island lighthouses close around Labour Day, but some stay open to mid/end September.
West Point Lighthouse
Location: 364 Cedar Dunes Park Rd, O'Leary, PE
Phone Number: 902-859-3605
Website: www.westpointharmony.ca
This lighthouse was built in 1875 and overlooks the Northumberland Strait. It is a great spot to visit if you want to learn more about lighthouses, Island life, and sea mysteries, such as the Phantom Ship and the Sea Serpent that some claim to have seen off the cape.
Also, if hauntings are more your style, this lighthouse made Google Canada's top 10 haunted places. The lighthouse is believed to be haunted by its first Lighthouse Keeper, William MacDonald. The Phantom Ship has also been seen from this area.
To add to the awesomeness of this location, in 1987 an inn was added to the lighthouse so you can actually spend the night. The rooms are in demand though so you may have to settle for a visit this year and book a room early next year.
Wood Islands Lighthouse
Location: 173 Lighthouse Road, Wood Islands, PE,
Phone Number: 902-962-3110
Website: www.woodislands.ca
If you have ever taken the ferry to or from PEI, you have seen this lighthouse. Like all lighthouses, the view is amazing and if you are lucky, you can watch the ferry arrive or depart.
The lighthouse features information on the fishing industry, sea glass, the Phantom Ship, rum running, and at the gift shop, you can buy PEI rum cake - which is delicious by the way!
Panmure Island Lighthouse
Location: Rte. 347, 62 Lighthouse Road, Montague
Phone Number: 902-969-9380
Website: www.panmureislandlighthouse.ca
This is PEI's oldest wooden lighthouse, built in 1853 and overlooks the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The lighthouse was built using shipbuilding techniques - you build using the techniques you know.
Cape Bear Lighthouse and Marconi Station
Location: 42 Black Brook Road, Murray Harbour
Phone Number: 902-962-2917
Website: www.capebearlighthouse.com/
This lighthouse opened in 1881 and is located on the southeast coast. In 1905, the Marconi Station was added to the lighthouse and this station is significant! On the night of April 14, 1912, this station, under the direction of Thomas Bartlett, received the first distress signal in Canada from the Titanic! Newfoundland was also receiving communique's from the Titanic but they were not part of Canada at the time.
Culture Centres and Museums
The province is full of museums and cultural centres. While many are only open in the summer months, some do stay open into September.
Stompin' Tom Centre
Location: 14024 Route 14, Skinners Pond
Phone Number: 902-882-3214
Website: http://stompintomcentre.com/
The Stompin' Tom Centre features a gift shop, restaurant/food service, exhibits, and features live entertainment every day (free!) from 1 pm to 2 pm. They also do numerous events - dinner theatres, hoedowns, surf and turf, and more. You can find their event calendar here.
They also have the old schoolhouse he attended as a child on site.
Canadian Potato Museum
Location: 1 Dewar Lane, O'Leary
Phone Number: 902-859-2039
Website: http://www.canadianpotatomuseum.info/
This museum celebrates the potato and its history in Canada and PEI. The displays include the history of farming but also the diseases and pests that can destroy a potato crop. Plus, if old, and often times large, farm equipment interests you, you will enjoy this museum!
The Canadian Potato Museum was also named one of the top 11 food museums by CNN in 2015! They also have a well-known country kitchen on-site, check out the menu here.
Bedeque Area Historical Museum
Location: 90 Linkletter Road, Bedeque
Phone Number: 902-887-3009
Website: http://www.bedequemuseum.ca/
This museum in Bedeque tells the history of the area and has displays on the loyalists of the area, settlers, etc. The museum is located in the same building where William Callbeck opened his general store in 1899. One neat section of the museum is set up to replicate the original store.
Two of my favourite artefacts are:
This is Alexander Anderson's Copper Boiler (from around 1783). This copper pot would have been used to boil maple sap to maple sugar as PEI once had many sugar maple tree's.
When I first saw this bench, I will admit I didn't think much of it. But, then it was explained to me how this bench worked. The wooden rail you see on the left side was removable, so if two adults or older children sat on it they would remove the rail. But if someone with a young child or infant sat down, the railing allowed them to set the child down without worrying that they may roll off the bench.
Lucy Maud Montgomery Birthplace
Location: 6461 PE-20, Kensington
Phone Number: 902-886-2099
Website: http://www.lmmontgomerybirthplace.ca/
If Lucy Maud Montgomery is your thing, you will love this site. Montgomery was born here and the house features artefacts from this time period and items that belonged to Mongomery and her family.
If you're a romantic, you can see Montgomery's wedding dress.
Wyatt Heritage
Location: 75 Spring St, Summerside
Phone Number: 902-432-1296
Website: http://culturesummerside.com/
The Wyatt Heritage Properties have five locations in Summerside and one of the most interesting is the Wyatt House Museum. The museum tells the story of the Wyatt family, a prominent Summerside family. The house is also haunted by Aunt Jessie. There is even a story of a guide almost being injured after making disparaging remarks about Aunt Jessie when the attic door flew off its hinges and fell at a diagonal. Thankfully, the guide was not hit but there are still marks on the bannister and floor from where the door landed.
Farmers' Bank of Rustico
Location: Church Road, Hunter River
Phone Number: 902-963-3168
Website: www.farmersbank.ca
This museum actually operated as a bank from 1864-1894. It is also a legacy of Reverand George-Antoine Belcourt who worked to increase education in the area. The museum is also the home of the Doucet House, the oldest building in the area and possibly the province, dated around 1772.
PEI Regiment Museum
Location: 3 Haviland Street, Charlottetown
Phone Number: 902-968-0108
Website: www.peiregimentmuseum.ca
This is a pretty neat museum. It houses a lot of information about Islanders in the military! It is also home to a set of original, South African War hardtack biscuits!
Sir Andrew MacPhail Homestead
Location: 271 McPhail Park Road, Vernon Bridge
Phone number: 902-651-2789
Website: www.macphailhomestead.ca
This museum celebrates the life and legacy of Sir Andrew MacPhail, his writings, his role as a teacher, journalist, doctor, editor, author, professor, and a First World War Veteran. They also operate a small cafe which has delicious food and the surrounding woods are also beautiful!
Garden of the Gulf
Location: 564 Mainstreet, Montague
Phone Number: 902-838-2467
Website: www.montaguemuseumpei.com
This museum focuses on the Montague, Three Rivers, Cardigan, and Georgetown Areas. This is actually the oldest museum in the PEI and is located in the old Canadian Customs and Post Office building from 1887.
If you want to check out family history from this area, they also have a genealogy centre, just be sure to call ahead of time to arrange a meeting.
Cardigan Heritage Centre
Location: 4537 Wharf Road, Cardigan
Phone Number: 902-583-3110
Website: http://www.cardiganheritage.com/
This museum was founded in 2003 to tell the history of the Cardigan school district. Some of the museum's themes include shipbuilding, military, sports, farming, fishing, and the railroad. Shipbuilding is prominent in the museum and they even have a scale model of part of a ships hull located outside, as the museum overlooks the harbour, it is a fitting display.
Provincial Museums
Finally, we have the sites run by the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. These sites have some interesting facts, beautiful scenery, and even animals!
Acadian Museum
Location: 23 Main Drive East, Miscouche
Phone Number: 902-432-2880
Website: http://museeacadien.org/an/exhibitions/exposition-permanente/
The Acadian Museum tells the history of Acadians in the province, from their original settlements to the present day.
Eptek Arts and Culture Centre
Location: 130 Heather Moyse Drive, Summerside
Phone Number: (902) 888-8373
Website: http://www.peimuseum.ca/index.php3?number=1043036&lang=E
Eptek has a great display area for art and exhibits. The current show, "Behind the Panels" is based on local comic artists, including some wonderful works by artistic children.
Beaconsfield Historic House
Location: Right beside Victoria Park
Phone Number: 902-368-6603
Website: http://www.peimuseum.ca/index.php3?number=1043026&lang=E
Beaconsfield is a beautiful and elegant building, next time you are at Victoria Park, check it out!
Orwell Corner Historic Village
Location: Orwell Corner
Phone Number: 902-651-8515
Website: http://www.peimuseum.ca/orwell
Orwell Corner is so much fun. You can check out interesting artefacts and history, but also see goats, pigs, horses, and a miniature horse (who I have heard has "little horse syndrome", like little dog syndrome, but for horses).
Basin Head Fisheries Museum
Location: 336 Basin Head Road, Souris
Phone Number: 902-357-7233
Website: http://www.peimuseum.ca/index.php3?number=1042966&lang=E
If you are interested in the history of fishing, this is a great place to check out. It is also right beside a great beach.
Elmira Railway Museum
Location: 457 Elmira Road, Elmira
Phone Number: 902-357-7234
Website: http://www.peimuseum.ca/index.php3?number=1043067&lang=E
Come check out a miniature railway and the history of the railway!
So there will be plenty of places you can visit in September. There will still be tourists, but not as many as they have to go back to work and school. I would recommend checking their websites first as sometimes hours will change in September and not all these places are open until the end of September while others are open into October.
Lighthouses
The view from the top of a lighthouse is amazing... as long as you make it to the top, if you are scared of heights or steep staircases/ladders then they may not be your thing. But, even if you do not go to the top, they are still beautiful to look at and many have wonderful views from the ground as well. Many Island lighthouses close around Labour Day, but some stay open to mid/end September.
West Point Lighthouse
Location: 364 Cedar Dunes Park Rd, O'Leary, PE
Phone Number: 902-859-3605
Website: www.westpointharmony.ca
This lighthouse was built in 1875 and overlooks the Northumberland Strait. It is a great spot to visit if you want to learn more about lighthouses, Island life, and sea mysteries, such as the Phantom Ship and the Sea Serpent that some claim to have seen off the cape.
Also, if hauntings are more your style, this lighthouse made Google Canada's top 10 haunted places. The lighthouse is believed to be haunted by its first Lighthouse Keeper, William MacDonald. The Phantom Ship has also been seen from this area.
To add to the awesomeness of this location, in 1987 an inn was added to the lighthouse so you can actually spend the night. The rooms are in demand though so you may have to settle for a visit this year and book a room early next year.
 |
| Unfortunately, I don't have a picture from the top, it's a great view though! (Image Credit: West Point Lighthouse) |
Wood Islands Lighthouse
Location: 173 Lighthouse Road, Wood Islands, PE,
Phone Number: 902-962-3110
Website: www.woodislands.ca
If you have ever taken the ferry to or from PEI, you have seen this lighthouse. Like all lighthouses, the view is amazing and if you are lucky, you can watch the ferry arrive or depart.
The lighthouse features information on the fishing industry, sea glass, the Phantom Ship, rum running, and at the gift shop, you can buy PEI rum cake - which is delicious by the way!
Panmure Island Lighthouse
Location: Rte. 347, 62 Lighthouse Road, Montague
Phone Number: 902-969-9380
Website: www.panmureislandlighthouse.ca
This is PEI's oldest wooden lighthouse, built in 1853 and overlooks the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The lighthouse was built using shipbuilding techniques - you build using the techniques you know.
Cape Bear Lighthouse and Marconi Station
Location: 42 Black Brook Road, Murray Harbour
Phone Number: 902-962-2917
Website: www.capebearlighthouse.com/
This lighthouse opened in 1881 and is located on the southeast coast. In 1905, the Marconi Station was added to the lighthouse and this station is significant! On the night of April 14, 1912, this station, under the direction of Thomas Bartlett, received the first distress signal in Canada from the Titanic! Newfoundland was also receiving communique's from the Titanic but they were not part of Canada at the time.
 |
| "Titanic Bodies on the Way" In the Halifax Herald from April 23, 1912. (Image Credit: Kelly MacKenzie) |
The province is full of museums and cultural centres. While many are only open in the summer months, some do stay open into September.
Stompin' Tom Centre
Location: 14024 Route 14, Skinners Pond
Phone Number: 902-882-3214
Website: http://stompintomcentre.com/
 |
| Stompin' Tom (Image Credit: Globe and Mail) |
The Stompin' Tom Centre features a gift shop, restaurant/food service, exhibits, and features live entertainment every day (free!) from 1 pm to 2 pm. They also do numerous events - dinner theatres, hoedowns, surf and turf, and more. You can find their event calendar here.
They also have the old schoolhouse he attended as a child on site.
Canadian Potato Museum
Location: 1 Dewar Lane, O'Leary
Phone Number: 902-859-2039
Website: http://www.canadianpotatomuseum.info/
This museum celebrates the potato and its history in Canada and PEI. The displays include the history of farming but also the diseases and pests that can destroy a potato crop. Plus, if old, and often times large, farm equipment interests you, you will enjoy this museum!
 |
| You can easily find the museum, there is a giant potato in front of it! (Image Credit: The Star) |
The Canadian Potato Museum was also named one of the top 11 food museums by CNN in 2015! They also have a well-known country kitchen on-site, check out the menu here.
Bedeque Area Historical Museum
Location: 90 Linkletter Road, Bedeque
Phone Number: 902-887-3009
Website: http://www.bedequemuseum.ca/
This museum in Bedeque tells the history of the area and has displays on the loyalists of the area, settlers, etc. The museum is located in the same building where William Callbeck opened his general store in 1899. One neat section of the museum is set up to replicate the original store.
Two of my favourite artefacts are:
 |
| (Image Credit: Kelly MacKenzie) |
This is Alexander Anderson's Copper Boiler (from around 1783). This copper pot would have been used to boil maple sap to maple sugar as PEI once had many sugar maple tree's.
 |
| (Image Credit: Kelly MacKenzie) |
When I first saw this bench, I will admit I didn't think much of it. But, then it was explained to me how this bench worked. The wooden rail you see on the left side was removable, so if two adults or older children sat on it they would remove the rail. But if someone with a young child or infant sat down, the railing allowed them to set the child down without worrying that they may roll off the bench.
Lucy Maud Montgomery Birthplace
Location: 6461 PE-20, Kensington
Phone Number: 902-886-2099
Website: http://www.lmmontgomerybirthplace.ca/
If Lucy Maud Montgomery is your thing, you will love this site. Montgomery was born here and the house features artefacts from this time period and items that belonged to Mongomery and her family.
If you're a romantic, you can see Montgomery's wedding dress.
 |
| Lucy Maud Montgomery's wedding dress for all you romantics. (Image Credit: Lucy Maud Birthplace) |
Wyatt Heritage
Location: 75 Spring St, Summerside
Phone Number: 902-432-1296
Website: http://culturesummerside.com/
The Wyatt Heritage Properties have five locations in Summerside and one of the most interesting is the Wyatt House Museum. The museum tells the story of the Wyatt family, a prominent Summerside family. The house is also haunted by Aunt Jessie. There is even a story of a guide almost being injured after making disparaging remarks about Aunt Jessie when the attic door flew off its hinges and fell at a diagonal. Thankfully, the guide was not hit but there are still marks on the bannister and floor from where the door landed.
Farmers' Bank of Rustico
Location: Church Road, Hunter River
Phone Number: 902-963-3168
Website: www.farmersbank.ca
This museum actually operated as a bank from 1864-1894. It is also a legacy of Reverand George-Antoine Belcourt who worked to increase education in the area. The museum is also the home of the Doucet House, the oldest building in the area and possibly the province, dated around 1772.
PEI Regiment Museum
Location: 3 Haviland Street, Charlottetown
Phone Number: 902-968-0108
Website: www.peiregimentmuseum.ca
This is a pretty neat museum. It houses a lot of information about Islanders in the military! It is also home to a set of original, South African War hardtack biscuits!
 |
| Hardtack biscuits from the South African War. They've held up rather nicely...wouldn't want to eat them though! (Image Credit: Kelly MacKenzie) |
Sir Andrew MacPhail Homestead
Location: 271 McPhail Park Road, Vernon Bridge
Phone number: 902-651-2789
Website: www.macphailhomestead.ca
This museum celebrates the life and legacy of Sir Andrew MacPhail, his writings, his role as a teacher, journalist, doctor, editor, author, professor, and a First World War Veteran. They also operate a small cafe which has delicious food and the surrounding woods are also beautiful!
Garden of the Gulf
Location: 564 Mainstreet, Montague
Phone Number: 902-838-2467
Website: www.montaguemuseumpei.com
This museum focuses on the Montague, Three Rivers, Cardigan, and Georgetown Areas. This is actually the oldest museum in the PEI and is located in the old Canadian Customs and Post Office building from 1887.
If you want to check out family history from this area, they also have a genealogy centre, just be sure to call ahead of time to arrange a meeting.
Cardigan Heritage Centre
Location: 4537 Wharf Road, Cardigan
Phone Number: 902-583-3110
Website: http://www.cardiganheritage.com/
This museum was founded in 2003 to tell the history of the Cardigan school district. Some of the museum's themes include shipbuilding, military, sports, farming, fishing, and the railroad. Shipbuilding is prominent in the museum and they even have a scale model of part of a ships hull located outside, as the museum overlooks the harbour, it is a fitting display.
Provincial Museums
Finally, we have the sites run by the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation. These sites have some interesting facts, beautiful scenery, and even animals!
Acadian Museum
Location: 23 Main Drive East, Miscouche
Phone Number: 902-432-2880
Website: http://museeacadien.org/an/exhibitions/exposition-permanente/
The Acadian Museum tells the history of Acadians in the province, from their original settlements to the present day.
Eptek Arts and Culture Centre
Location: 130 Heather Moyse Drive, Summerside
Phone Number: (902) 888-8373
Website: http://www.peimuseum.ca/index.php3?number=1043036&lang=E
Eptek has a great display area for art and exhibits. The current show, "Behind the Panels" is based on local comic artists, including some wonderful works by artistic children.
Beaconsfield Historic House
Location: Right beside Victoria Park
Phone Number: 902-368-6603
Website: http://www.peimuseum.ca/index.php3?number=1043026&lang=E
Beaconsfield is a beautiful and elegant building, next time you are at Victoria Park, check it out!
Orwell Corner Historic Village
Location: Orwell Corner
Phone Number: 902-651-8515
Website: http://www.peimuseum.ca/orwell
Orwell Corner is so much fun. You can check out interesting artefacts and history, but also see goats, pigs, horses, and a miniature horse (who I have heard has "little horse syndrome", like little dog syndrome, but for horses).
 |
| This little guy is so cute and just jumping around when we saw him. (Image Credit: Kelly MacKenzie) |
Basin Head Fisheries Museum
Location: 336 Basin Head Road, Souris
Phone Number: 902-357-7233
Website: http://www.peimuseum.ca/index.php3?number=1042966&lang=E
If you are interested in the history of fishing, this is a great place to check out. It is also right beside a great beach.
Elmira Railway Museum
Location: 457 Elmira Road, Elmira
Phone Number: 902-357-7234
Website: http://www.peimuseum.ca/index.php3?number=1043067&lang=E
Come check out a miniature railway and the history of the railway!
So there will be plenty of places you can visit in September. There will still be tourists, but not as many as they have to go back to work and school. I would recommend checking their websites first as sometimes hours will change in September and not all these places are open until the end of September while others are open into October.
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