The Rooms

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The Rooms

Museum

The Rooms is Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial museum, art gallery and archives located on a prominent hill in St. John's. Travellers visit for its collections, changing exhibitions and sweeping views over the harbour.

The Rooms St. John's, Newfoundland and LabradorCorner BrookGander, Newfoundland and LabradorLabrador CityMount PearlHappy Valley-Goose BayThe Rooms

The Rooms essentials

Address: 9 Bonaventure Avenue, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

The Rooms opened in 2005 and brings together the Provincial Museum, the Provincial Archives and the Art Gallery of Newfoundland and Labrador under one roof. The building’s form references traditional gable-roofed fishing sheds, and it occupies a highly visible hilltop site overlooking St. John’s harbour, The Narrows and Signal Hill.

The site is historically important as the location of 18th-century Fort Townshend, and its selection attracted debate from archaeologists and historians during planning and construction. The outline of the fort has since been marked outdoors with granite pavers and interpretation, and careful archaeological recording was done before building to allow future study.

Inside, the art gallery presents a busy program of temporary exhibitions as well as a substantial permanent collection with a strong focus on Newfoundland and Labrador artists. The museum displays the province’s natural and cultural history through dioramas, mounted specimens and social history exhibits, while the archives preserve government records and selected private collections on the third floor. Visiting combines indoor galleries and archival spaces with exterior viewpoints and interpretation of the site’s military past.

  • Harbour and Signal Hill views: Upper levels and outdoor plazas offer sweeping views over St. John’s Harbour, The Narrows and Signal Hill.
  • Provincial Art Gallery: A 10,000-square-foot gallery space with rotating exhibitions and a permanent collection emphasizing Newfoundland and Labrador artists.
  • Provincial Museum galleries: Displays explore the province’s natural and cultural history, including dioramas, mounted bird collections and exhibits on local communities and military history.
  • Fort Townshend outline and outdoor interpretation: Granite pavers and signage trace the footprint of the historic 18th-century fort on the site and explain its significance.
  • Provincial Archives: Research collections and government records are held on-site; consult staff in advance if you need access to archival material.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit The Rooms#

St. John's has cool, changeable weather and precipitation year-round, so the warmest months give the most comfortable conditions for outdoor views while indoor exhibits are attractive in any season.

Summer (best)
June - August · 7°C - 22°C (45°F - 72°F)
Summer brings the mildest temperatures and relatively lower precipitation compared with autumn and winter, making it the most pleasant time for outdoor terraces and harbour views.
Shoulder seasons (good)
May; September - October · 3°C - 22°C (37°F - 72°F)
Late spring and early autumn are cool and changeable; these months can be less crowded and still offer good museum visits, though expect occasional rain or fog.
Winter (quiet, indoor-focused)
November - March · -8°C - 7°C (18°F - 45°F)
Winters are cold with frequent precipitation and shorter daylight, so visits tend to focus on the galleries, museum and archives rather than outdoor viewpoints.

Weather & Climate near The Rooms#

Climate

The Rooms's climate is classified as Subarctic - Subarctic climate with mild summers (peaking in August) and freezing winters (coldest in February). Temperatures range from -8°C to 22°C. Abundant rainfall (1472 mm/year), wettest in October, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.

Air Quality: AQI 20 Good
Best Time to Visit
JulyAugustJune
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
24°
Warmest Month
-15°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Poor -8° - -1° -12° 140 mm overcast 87% 8.3 m/s 0.1 low 8.8h
February Poor -9° - -1° -12° 124 mm overcast 87% 7.7 m/s 0.2 low 10.1h
March Poor -5° - 2° -8° 131 mm overcast 86% 7.3 m/s 0.5 low 11.8h
April Poor -1° - 6° -2° 123 mm overcast 88% 6.6 m/s 0.8 moderate 13.5h
May Acceptable 3° - 12° 4° 101 mm overcast 90% 5.9 m/s 1.2 high 14.9h
June Good 7° - 17° 12° 103 mm overcast 90% 5.5 m/s 1.4 high 15.7h
July Very Good 12° - 22° 17° 91 mm overcast 90% 5.3 m/s 1.4 high 15.3h
August Good 12° - 21° 17° 104 mm overcast 88% 5.4 m/s 1.2 high 14.1h
September Good 9° - 17° 13° 126 mm partly cloudy 86% 6.0 m/s 0.8 moderate 12.4h
October Poor 4° - 12° 4° 150 mm overcast 87% 6.9 m/s 0.4 low 10.7h
November Poor 0° - 7° -2° 138 mm overcast 86% 7.4 m/s 0.2 low 9.2h
December Poor -5° - 2° -8° 141 mm overcast 87% 8.2 m/s 0.1 low 8.3h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to The Rooms#

The Rooms sits in central St. John’s on Bonaventure Avenue, a short distance above the downtown waterfront. The nearest airport is St. John’s International Airport; Newfoundland has no intercity passenger rail service.

From downtown the building is reached on foot, by local bus or by taxi; the site is on a hill so expect an uphill approach from the harbour and waterfront neighbourhoods. If you plan to drive, check local signage for visitor parking and access routes, and confirm transit options locally.

Tips for Visiting The Rooms#

  • Bring a wind- and rainproof layer - the hilltop location can be windy and weather changes quickly.
  • Plan to split time between indoor galleries and the outdoor terraces for the best views when the weather allows.
  • If you need to consult archival material, contact the Archives in advance to arrange access or appointments.
  • Exhibitions change regularly; check the gallery’s current schedule before visiting.
  • Observe posted rules on photography and handling in galleries and archival areas.