A brief history of the exhibition
For over a century, eastern Quebec was one of North America’s most highly regarded holiday destinations. And this “playground” was huge, with sea-bathing resorts, commonly called “watering places,” located on both shores of the St. Lawrence. Holiday goers flocked to the prettiest beaches between Baie-Saint-Paul and Tadoussac (on the northern shore) and between Rivière-Ouelle and Métis (on the southern shore). They also explored the backcountry, seeking time in nature or fish and game.
Several local, regional and national collections provide a panorama of this bygone golden era. Spearheading this exhibition, the Musée du Bas-Saint-Laurent has a rich collection of period photographs. Most show the local French-speaking bourgeoisie from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. Contributions from the Museum’s many partners have allowed us to present many high-quality documents and varying perspectives (regional, linguistic, cultural, etc.).
Perhaps the variety of tourists and other summer residents who frequented the region will come as a surprise to exhibition goers. We hope visitors will also be intrigued as they make the many connections between this local slice of history and the greater national history of Quebec and Canada.
In the following documents, Québec (with an accent) indicates the capital city, while Quebec (without an accent) signifies the Canadian province.