The smell of home-cooked potato dishes and fresh bread, the sound of livestock and rows of eclectic homes, barns, craft shops and more. Walking the streets of Acadian Historical Village is like stepping hundreds of years back in time. This immersive heritage attraction serves as a live-action museum that showcases the everyday lives of Acadians from 1770 to 1949. A major tourist attraction today, early Acadian culture lives on through the unique experience.

Founding the village

The idea for the project dates back to 1965, when the Caraquet Chamber of Commerce began thinking of ways to increase tourism in the area. Seeing Acadian historic sites like Port-Royal and Grand-Pré in Nova Scotia, a committee was formed to pursue the creation of one in New Brunswick. The provincial government approved the project in 1971, which kicked off a long period of planning to acquire Acadian artefacts and find buildings to be disassembled, transported and rebuilt at the historic site.

Acadian Historical Village first opened to the public on June 28, 1977, in Bertrand, New Brunswick, near Caraquet. On opening day, the site had 17 historic buildings, many of which related to 18th-century farming.

Growing through time

After opening, the village continued to grow. Buildings were slowly added to the property throughout the ‘80s, including a flour mill and a print shop. A major expansion was unveiled in 2001, including a hotel that allowed guests to stay on the property. Sylvain Godin, director and general manager of Acadian Historical Village, explains that the goal of this newer section was to show Acadian progression into the industrial era, with other additions like a cooper’s workshop, a tinsmith’s shop and more modern homes.

Philippe Basque, historian with Acadian Historical Village, says about 75 per cent of the buildings on the property were transported from across the island and restored onsite. So, it really is a living museum of Acadian history. “In addition to saving buildings, furniture and other artefacts, the village has preserved knowledge of everyday Acadian life from centuries before our time,” Basque commented.

Godin adds that the village is also a major tourism attraction for the area. In addition to using authentic buildings throughout the village, they have real farm animals on-site that farmers would have kept in the 1800s. Plus, they cook traditional Acadian meals in many of the homes each day. It’s another way to augment the experience. Visitors can smell the home-cooked meals and fresh bread baking in an outdoor oven on the property as they explore the streets.

Acadian Historical Village is open to the public from early June to the end of September each year. A staff of about 15 manage the property year-round, and during tourist season, the village employs up to 200.

When asked about plans for the future, Godin mentioned recent innovations like adding an indoor park with air conditioning, so families have a cool place to rest. “We’re always looking for new projects and ways to be innovative,” he commented. Next on the horizon is a refurbishment project to convert an old train car into a premium rental unit on the property, and plans to celebrate 50 years of operation in 2027.

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