Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador Inc.
The Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador Inc. (WBMNL) is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the province’s maritime heritage, particularly the art and tradition of wooden boatbuilding. Established in 1997 as the Winterton Boat Building and Community Museum and later expanded in 2008 under its current name, the museum focuses on safeguarding the tools, skills, and histories of Newfoundland and Labrador’s outport communities, where wooden boats were vital to survival and economic life[3][5].

History
The museum originated in Winterton, a community with deep ties to boatbuilding, under the direction of the Town of Winterton’s Heritage Advisory Board. Its founding aimed to address the decline of traditional boatbuilding practices and preserve the cultural knowledge embedded in these crafts[3][5]. By 2008, the organization formally became the Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador Inc., broadening its scope to represent the province’s diverse boatbuilding heritage[3].

Collections and Exhibits
The museum’s exhibits showcase wooden boats such as kayaks, punts, and dories, each reflecting distinct regional styles shaped by local environmental conditions and builder preferences. Displays include artifacts demonstrating the labor-intensive process of boat construction, from timber selection to finishing[1][4]. Interpretive materials emphasize the role of these vessels in fisheries, transportation, and community survival[5].

Programs and Mission
WBMNL conducts workshops led by master boatbuilders to pass traditional skills to new generations, ensuring the continuity of this cultural practice[2]. Its mission centers on celebrating the resilience of Newfoundland and Labrador’s coastal communities and the ingenuity of their boatbuilders, who crafted vessels tailored to local waters[5]. The museum also highlights how boatbuilding traditions fostered communal identity and resourcefulness[3][5].