Empress of Ireland Museum, Maritime history museum in Pointe-au-Père district, Rimouski, Canada
The Empress of Ireland Museum is a maritime museum in the Pointe-au-Père district of Rimouski that documents a steamship and the events surrounding it. The museum features four exhibition zones with artifacts, documents, and interactive displays, alongside a decommissioned submarine and a lighthouse accessible by climbing 128 steps.
The steamship collided with a Norwegian coal freighter in thick fog near the Saint Lawrence River in 1914 and sank quickly. This wreck became one of the deadliest maritime disasters in shipping history.
The museum preserves personal belongings and stories of passengers, including 167 Salvation Army band members who were traveling to an international conference in London. These objects reveal the human side of the disaster and help visitors connect with the lives of those aboard.
Plan for about three hours to explore all exhibition zones and installations, including the submarine and lighthouse. Clear pathways connect the different areas, and the lighthouse climb requires some physical effort.
The museum features an immersive audiovisual presentation called 'The Last Journey' that recreates the final hours of the ship using sensory effects. This experience lets visitors understand the dramatic moments in a distinctive way.
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