At the museum is a Canadian National Historic Event plaque which affords a glimpse into what the Ten Acadian National Conventions were about. The conventions took place over a period of fifty six years, from 1881 to 1937, the first being held
in Memramcook, New Brunswick. The second of the ten conventions was held in this very town. It was at this convention in Miscouche that the Acadian Flag (to the right) and their anthem,
Ave Maris Stella, were adopted. It was very likely the fact the second convention was held here that the town of Miscouche was chosen to be the site of the Acadian Museum.
Just to the east of the museum building is an old, very much rusted, ships cannon. Nearby is a plaque which relates the story of how and why the cannon came to be here.
The Louisbourg Cannon
From 1720 to 1758, the French colonies of Île Saint-Jean (Prince Edward Island) and Île Royale (Cape Breton) were administratively linked. The Commandant on Île Saint-Jean reported to the Governor of Île Royale at the Fortress of Louisbourg. In 1758, following a military conflict, the fortress fell into British hands. Île Saint-Jean and Île Royale became British colonies and most of the inhabitants were deported to France. This cannon belonged to a French frigate that sank during the siege of Louisbourg in 1758. The cannon was retrieved from the harbour in 1900. From November 9, 1901, the Natural History Society of Prince Edward Island had it on display in front of Province House in Charlottetown. In 1965, while Province House was being renovated, the cannon was entrusted to Parks Canada and stored at the Port-la-Joye Fort-Amherst National Historic Site. In the fall of 1999, the cannon was loaned by Parks Canada to the Acadian Museum in Miscouche to commemorate the ties which once existed between Île Saint-Jean and Louisbourg. Its new site was officially inaugurated on August 12, 2000.
From the plaque near the cannon