Visitors are curious about the construction currently underway in our Acadian section. The following will give you an overview of the project.
What are we doing?
We are re-roofing the Acadian Cottage (la Maison acadienne)! This unique structure has evolved in many ways since its initial construction in the early 1980s, reflecting a variety of early Acadian construction techniques. Most recently, the building had a thatched roof but it now needs replacing. This summer we are returning to the vertical planking which served the building for the first half of its life and was a common roofing material in the 17th century.
What's next?
Once we have a sound roof, we will be making some other repairs and improvements. We expect to re-open the interior by early summer so Garden visitors can once again go inside and get a sense of 17th century Acadian life. We are very excited for that!
On the longer term, we plan to thatch the small bake oven shelter as a staff & volunteer project to demonstrate thatching as another early Acadian roofing method, and an important part of the Acadian story. We will use native grasses that would have been readily available in the 17th century.
Below is an image of how the building will look when we are finished.
2026 marks the 45th Anniversary of the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, and we can’t think of a better time to bring new life to la Maison acadienne.
If you would like to help us with this project and future improvements to our Acadian section, you can donate online or in person at the Gardens Shop.