St. Michael's Museum

St. Michael’s Museum is designated a Local Historic Place for its former use as a rectory, for its importance to education, for being the first Hotel-Dieu Hospital and for its current function as a religious and genealogical centre.

The historic value of St. Michael's Museum lies in its initial function as St. Michael's Roman Catholic Church rectory. It was the home of Father Sweeney, its builder, followed by Father Vericker and Bishop Barry.

St. Michael's Museum is also recognized for its educational significance. During Bishop Barry's residency, the building also functioned as St. Michael's Male Academy. This academy would become the cradle of St. Thomas University.

St. Michael’s Museum is also recognized for being the first Hotel Dieu Hospital in 1869-1870 when four Sisters of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph arrived to the Miramichi at the request of the Bishop to open a hospital.

Heritage value of St. Michael's Museum also lies in its more recent mandate of providing religious and genealogical resources to the public. Since 1979, when the St. Michael's Museum Association took over the building, it has been open to the public. It houses a religious book store, a genealogical research service and archival library.