Pictou Island Heritage Society · Virtual Museum

Pictou Island Heritage Society

Preserving and sharing the history, stories, places and people of Pictou Island.

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This Week in Pictou Island History

1827

59 residents and 116 cultivated acres

Published Island-level data records 59 residents, 116 cultivated acres and mixed crops and livestock. It is 1827 data published by Haliburton in 1829, not an 1828 census.

From the Island’s history. This account is dated to a year or period, rather than this calendar week.

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Jack and Mary Rankin’s farm · landscape context; not a photograph of the dated event. · Andrea Rankin Sibley collection

Gaelic on Pictou Island

A newspaper, a book, census entries and an Islander’s recollection illuminate the place of Gaelic in Island life.

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Annabel “Bella” McCallum at a spinning wheel — Island household context; the photograph does not establish language use. · Andrea Rankin Sibley collection

Featured Exhibit

Island of Abundance

How Pictou Island was known, named, mapped, granted, occupied under tenancy and transformed by resident ownership

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Island of Abundance — Jack and Mary Rankin’s farm · Andrea Rankin Sibley collection

An Island life

William C. “Bill Cole” MacDonald

William Creighton “Bill Cole” MacDonald was part of a Pictou Island family whose story connects military service, lighthouse keeping and later Island community life.

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The Historical Map

Shipwrecks & Strandings

Explore the confirmed and source-qualified vessel stories around the Island.

Explore This Map Browse the Historical Atlas

PIHS interpretive Shipwrecks and Strandings poster — Modern PIHS interpretation, not an archival map. Markers retain the exhibit’s evidence qualifications. · Pictou Island Heritage Society

From the Collection · Photograph of the Week

Hooper and MacLean family group

A large family group from the Hooper and MacLean families. Identifications supplied with the Andrea Rankin Sibley collection accompany this family photograph.

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Hooper and MacLean family group · Andrea Rankin Sibley collection

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People

Families, residents and the lives of people connected with Pictou Island.

Andrea Rankin Sibley collectionExplore People

Places

Roads, coves, buildings, cemeteries, community sites and changing landscapes.

Ray Hayman / PIHS collectionExplore Places

Exhibits

Explore larger stories and themes from Pictou Island’s history.

PIHS collectionBrowse Exhibits

Pictou Island Heritage Society

PIHS is a volunteer organization made possible by the time and effort of its board, members and community volunteers. The upkeep of Pictou Island’s heritage sites is ongoing. We greatly appreciate everyone who helps with this annual work.

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PIHS is not a registered charity and does not issue tax receipts.