Single capital execution 24 août 1889 (≈ 1889)
Use of guillotine preserved in the museum.
11 mai 1964
Creation of the museum association
Creation of the museum association 11 mai 1964 (≈ 1964)
Foundation by Edmond Fontaine to preserve the heritage.
12 juillet 1965
Opening of the first museum
Opening of the first museum 12 juillet 1965 (≈ 1965)
Opening in the former Saint Vincent Workshop.
1999
Birth of the Ark
Birth of the Ark 1999 (≈ 1999)
Transfer of collections and presidential inauguration.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
5000 ans avant notre ère
Jackets of the Year in Henry
Jackets of the Year in Henry 5000 ans avant notre ère (≈ 5000)
The most southern Amerindian archaeological site.
Key figures
Edmond Fontaine (1899-1982) - Founder of the museum
Initiator of the preservation of local heritage.
Origin and history
The Museum of the Arch finds its origins in the creation of the association for the Museum of the Saint Peter and Miquelon Islands on May 11, 1964. Founded by Edmond Fontaine (1899-1982), this association aimed to preserve and exhibit works and objects of artistic, historical or documentary interest, while promoting the influence of the islands and the French presence in North America. The museum was first installed in 1965 in a historic building in Saint-Pierre, built in 1867-1868, which once housed the St. Vincent Open, an institution for disadvantaged girls run by the Saint-Joseph de Cluny sisters.
In 1999, an agreement transferred the collections to the Territorial Community, marking the birth of the Ark, a space combining museum and archives. Inaugurated by the President of the Republic during his visit, this place preserves unique prehistoric vestiges, such as those of the 5 000-year-old Henry's site of l'Anse, as well as objects bearing witness to the Amerindian, Paleo-Eskimo and European history of the archipelago. Among the remarkable pieces are a guillotine used in 1889, 18th and 19th century documents, and local naturalist collections.
The name "Arche" symbolizes both the architecture of the building and its vocation to welcome memories and the art of the archipelago. The logo, with its stylish "A", evokes the roof of the museum while representing the Arts, Archives and Archipelago. Today, the museum plays a central role in the preservation of the physical and intangible heritage of Saint Peter and Miquelon, while highlighting its unique geopolitical position in North America.
