Site management

Scenically set at the confluence of the Northwest and Southwest Miramichi rivers, Beaubears Island and Wilson Point combine to create Boishébert and Beaubears Island Shipbuilding National Historic Sites, J. Leonard O'Brien Memorial. Part archaeological site, part outdoor adventure and part historical re-creation, this captivating heritage collection illuminates a history both triumphant and tragic.

For eons, Mi’gmaq peoples visited Beaubears Island, drawing subsistence and spirituality from the land; French fur traders first arrived in the 17th century. During the Le grand dérangement, many Acadians sought refuge in this area; in the 18th and 19th centuries, Beaubears was renowned for its industrious wooden shipbuilding.

Roam the woodland, meet local characters re-enacting these centuries long past and hear historical tales to rouse imagination. Paddle a Voyageur Canoe to a riverside archaeological site and contemplate the rich human experiences that lie hidden within these white pines and waterways.