Colony of Avalon

12/04/2025

You’re invited to attend our AGM!

The link provided will allow you to join the Colony of Avalon Annual General Meeting, beginning at 1:00 PM.

Please note: The Witless Bay Santa Claus Parade will be taking place, and there may be traffic delays between 10:30 AM and 11:30 AM.

Thank you!

12/01/2025

You’re invited!

The Colony of Avalon’s Annual General Meeting will be held on December 6 @ 1:00 PM at 1 The Poole Road, Ferryland.

Whether you’re a longtime supporter or newly interested in our work, we’d love to have you join us as we look back on the year and share what’s ahead.

10/28/2025

How Do I ‘Haunt’ Thee…

Newfoundland and Labrador is one of North America’s most haunted places, and Ferryland is no exception. From the ghost of the Ferryland Visitor to the cries of shipwrecked sailors, this coastal community breathes history, and sometimes whispers it back.

At the Colony of Avalon, a site with a bone room, centuries-old headstones, a mourning ring, and millions of personal items, a few permanent phantoms are hardly surprising.
Somewhere between history and hauntings, the ghosts here have a few favourite ways to say hello:

Doors open on their own.
Footsteps echo through empty halls.
Whispers and knocks from empty rooms.
Lost items quietly return.
Shapes drift in the fog.
Lights flicker as if greeting old friends.

Over the years, staff and visitors have experienced countless eerie moments, which we’ve narrowed down to a few distinct characters.

Perhaps the most chilling tale is Planter’s Well. A child drowned there centuries ago, yet some say their playful spirit lingers, keeping visitors on their toes.

Then there’s Sara Kirke, the Colony’s grand dame. A pioneering entrepreneur, she devoted her life to the Poole Plantation, and even in death, some say her devotion never left.

“Smiles, tears, of all my life; and if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.” — Browning

These haunting characters inspired our Haunted Hike for next season. We’ve been digging up the past (carefully!) to create something truly spook-tacular.

Take a ghostly glimpse at our spooky snapshots — we’re dying to share them with you!

Happy Halloween! 🎃
P.S. No ghosts were harmed in the process.😉

09/22/2025

History travels far, our wampum beads made it all the way to the Big Apple! Wam Bam Thank You Mam! 😉

FERRYLAND, CANADA—CBC reports that an exceptionally rare set of Native American wampum beads were discovered […]

09/16/2025

Unraveling the Mystery of the Wampum Beads!

Catch CBC’s Here & Now tonight for the story of our once-in-a-lifetime discovery at the Colony of Avalon.

We’ve uncovered wampum beads for the fist time in NL and they are raising even more questions—how did they get here? Who made them?

The wampum beads might be small but the questions they raise are enormous!
Stay tuned 🙂

Please share🍀

09/13/2025

Drum roll please…
The winner of our Best of NL Basket is ....

Linda Crooks-Joyce!🎉

Thanks to everyone who dug deep and bought tickets—your support keeps our educational programs alive and thriving.

A big thank you as well to Cam Bennett, the producer of Fishing for History, for pulling the winning ticket.

We’re thrilled to share that together we raised over $10,000 to support our Dr. Tuck Memorial Library and expand our education programs. Thank you from the bottom of our archaeological layers for helping us keep history alive!

09/10/2025

CHEERS and BEERS for a Great Season😉

Our Best of NL Fundraising Raffle is wrapping up with over $10,000 in prizes to be won! Tickets are just $10 (email [email protected]). The winner will be drawn this Friday — make sure you’re part of the record, not left in the ruins!

To celebrate an incredible season, our maids who bake and brew decided to brew… and leaned heavy on the brew! Think spruce tips, molasses, yeast, water, and a few blueberries (because antioxidants make it healthy, right?).

We’re raising a mug to a season that brought us:
• Global awards
• TV spotlights
• Once-in-a-lifetime finds

From a dream team staff to frothy finales, we’re closing out the season this Saturday, Sept. 13 — with history in our hearts and a little spruce in our cups!

Thank you so much to everyone for all of your support and visiting us - you truly made this season one for the history books!💚

08/30/2025

🎬 Lights, Camera, Avalon!

It’s o-fish-al — the Colony of Avalon has gone Hollywood 😉

We’re absolutely starstruck to be hosting an episode of the hugely popular Canadian TV show Fishing for History!

Each episode of Fishing for History dives into a different waterway — from the Mississippi, Mackenzie, Potomac, and Rio Grande… all the way to Ferryland!

This time, the cameras are rolling as the crew casts their lines alongside the Atlantic Ocean at our Dig for a Day site, turning Ferryland into the stage for their next big discovery. Hosts Mike Lenton and Justin Gerbrandt, with their sidekick Toban Gottfried, travel across North America and Europe on the hunt for legendary treasures — and now, the Southern Shore takes the spotlight!!💚🍀

📅 Please note:
• The site will be closed to the public on Tuesday, Sept. 2 for pre-production.
• On Friday, Sept. 12, guided tours will be paused for filming, but self-guided tours will still be available.

Stay tuned to Apple TV+, Amazon Prime, and Super Channel to see the final production and Ferryland’s star moment! ✨

And in other dramatic news… don't miss our Maids Who Bake and Brew as they venture into the woods for a Spruce Beer Making 101 demo 🍻 — because at the Colony of Avalon, history isn’t just told… it’s toasted!

08/25/2025

Honouring Dr. Jim Tuck: Win Big & Support History

We’re selling tickets to help expand our exhibit space at the Colony of Avalon—making room for some of our newest and most exciting finds, including wampum beads, a first for Newfoundland and Labrador.

All funds will go directly to support this expansion and the creation of the Dr. Jim Tuck Educational Centre, paying homage to his incredible devotion to Newfoundland and the small community of Ferryland 💚—the Irish heart of NL.

Dr. Tuck’s legacy is woven into the very foundations of archaeology in this province. Personally invited by Premier Joey Smallwood, he came to Newfoundland to conduct research at Port au Choix, where he identified and named the Indigenous people now known as the Maritime Archaic, Dr Tuck went to establish the Archaeology program at Memorial University.

His groundbreaking work appeared in National Geographic and Time magazine, and he had the honour of personally guiding Princess Anne through Red Bay, Labrador. Long before “community archaeology” became a buzzword, he was working hand-in-hand with local communities to show that archaeology was never just about the artifacts, but about people, identity, and heritage.

He was instrumental in the early excavations at the Colony of Avalon, and as a mentor and teacher, he inspired generations of archaeologists at Memorial University who continue his work today.

By supporting this fundraiser, you’re helping us honour Dr. Tuck’s remarkable legacy while also building the future of archaeology in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Tickets: $10 each
Email transfer: [email protected]
Add your phone number in the message
Prize Value: Over $10,000

Your prize package includes:
• Diamond design bracelet & earrings – over $5,000 value
• Cliff’s Edge – $2,000
• Forager – $500
• Spa at the Monastery – $500
• Dave’s Stained Glass – $300
• East Coast Glow – $160
• …and much more!

08/19/2025

Pipe down, we’ve struck again!

We just dug up our tiniest treasure yet—the smallest pipe bowl ever found at the Colony of Avalon! Dating from 1580–1610, this little piece was likely puffed on by someone in the seasonal migratory fishery—talk about a smoking hot find!

But that’s not the only thing lighting up around here…

Our brand-new line of CoA candles & soaps has officially landed in the gift shop! We’re so proud to partner with Whispering Stone Candle Co. and Mudder’s Soap, to bring you scents that are scent-sationally historic. These incredible artisans have used the 17th century as their inspiration - from roses to juniper, the scents are as clean and fresh as the NL air.

Featured faves include:
• Lord Baltimore’s Pipe candle
• Lady Sarah Kirke’s Ocean Adventure candle
• 17th Century Kitchen Bread candle
• New Founde Land Pine Clad Hills candle
• Lady Sara Kirke Romantic Rose Soap
• Lord Baltimore’s Lather Soap
History has never been this scent-sational. 😉

Please note: As of August 24th, we will be closed Sundays and Mondays for the remainder of the season

08/08/2025

NO WI-FI NEEDED - Just Dirt, Discovery and a Dash of History

Our Dig Program — where you can learn how to be an archaeologist — is wrapping up for the season, only two weeks left!

Curious why we were ranked in the Top 10% of Places to Experience in the World by Tripadvisor? Come unearth the answer for yourself!

Don’t let summer slip through your fingers — we dig deep, and so can you.
We promise… there’s no app that beats playing in the dirt 😉
Spots are disappearing faster than a 17th-century coin in a midden pit — don’t miss out!