Archaeological Open-Air Museum

Fort Langley National Historic Site (CA)

Member of EXARC
No

Fort Langley National Historic Site is a former trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company. Founded in 1827, it was well frequented over the years 1856-1886. This was due to its strategic location on the northern boundary of the Oregon Territory of the U.S. and in the path of the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush. It played a key role in the establishment of the 49th parallel as the international boundary with the U.S. In 1886, Fort Langley ceased to be a company post.

In 1923, the Canadian government designated Fort Langley as a National Historic Site. At this time, the site consisted only of the one original building, the storehouse, and 1-acre of land. From 1931 to 1956, the Native Sons and Daughters of British Columbia operated a museum out of the storehouse. Parks Canada took control of the site in 1955, and a joint Federal-Provincial program reconstructed three buildings in time for the centennial of the founding of British Columbia in 1958.

Fort Edmonton Park (CA)

Member of EXARC
No

Fort Edmonton Park is a living history museum that focuses on Edmonton’s early years. After the old fort was torn down in 1915, citizens became interested in its history. The Fort Edmonton Foundation started 1969 with the execution of a masterplan with ten Eras. This plan was later amended and we can now see four distinct eras.

The four eras are:
# The Fur Trading Era as represented by the Hudson Bay Company Trading Fort (circa 1846)
# The Settlement Era as depicted on 1885 Street
# The Municipal Era (post railway) brought to life on 1905 Street
# The Metropolitan Era portrayed on 1920 Street and the Johnny J Jones Midway
The replica fort opened in 1974 and finally the 1920 Street was opened in the early 1990s.

Ornavik (FR)

Member of EXARC
No

ORNAVIK is a rather crazy project, aiming to recreate Normandy as it might have been in the 10th and 11th centuries.
Ornavik is also a place where you can discover the history of the birth of our region through its Carolingian village, its Viking area and its Motte and Baily castle. At Ornavik you can not only study Viking history but above all relive it! From the moment you enter into the Park, you will be immersed in a world of craftspeople, warriors, merchants, nobility and other townspeople in their costumes.

A Collaborative Real Life Adventure
Ornavik lives through the dedicated work of about a hundred volunteers and is financed mainly by local ponsors and regional grants. The authenticity of the project is ensured by a panel of experts, made up of historians and archaeologists, who check the building plans and techniques prior to reconstruction.

Kolomenskoye Park (RU)

Member of EXARC
No

Kolomenskoye (Russian: Коло́менское) is a former royal estate situated several kilometers to the southeast of the city center of Moscow, Russia, on the ancient road leading to the town of Kolomna (hence the name). The 390 hectare scenic area overlooks the steep banks of the Moskva River. It became a part of Moscow in the 1960s.

Tsar Alexis I (1629-1676) had all the previous wooden structures in Kolomenskoye demolished and replaced them with a new great wooden palace, famed for its fanciful, fairy-tale roofs. Foreigners referred to this huge maze of intricate corridors and 250 rooms, as 'an Eighth Wonder of the World'. Although basically only a summer palace, it was the favorite residence of Tsar Alexis I. The future Empress Elizabeth Petrovna was born in the palace in 1709, and Tsar Peter the Great spent part of his youth here. Upon the departure of the court for St.

Grodzisko Owidz (PL)

Member of EXARC
No

Grodzisko Owidz is a reconstruction of an 11th century medieval castle located near Starogard Gdański. The castle, located on the hill above the Wierzyca, River was one of the strongest in the area, and its rise was connected with the strengthening of Boleslaw Chrobry's dominion over Pomerania.

It was probably destroyed in 1090 by the order of Władysław Herman, who at that time destroyed a large part of Pomeranian castles, in order to prevent the Pomorzan rebellion. In spite of the damage, the castle continued to function. During the Swedish Deluge, the fort was used by the Swedes as a camp, hence the popular local name - Swedish Hill.

Connemara Heritage and History Centre (IE)

Member of EXARC
No

The Connemara Heritage Centre is an open-air museum near Clifden, County Galway, in the Connemara region, Ireland. The Centre introduces the history of the area from prehistoric times to the foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922.

The centre's attractions include audiovisual and history presentations, as well as outdoor exhibits including reconstructions like the reconstructions of the crannóg, ring fort and a clochaun give an insight into life in ancient times.

Korean Folk Village (KR)

Member of EXARC
No

Minsok village is a living museum type of tourist attraction in the city of Yongin, south of Seoul, a theme park if you like. Here once can experience 19th century Korea. The purpose of Korean Folk Village is to display elements of traditional Korean life and culture.

There are multiple sections to the park with 270 replicas of traditional houses of the different social classes (peasant, landowner, yangban) from various regions. One can even find a jail here. One marks the depictions of different regions, like for example a village from the island Jejudo.
Korean Folk Village is famous for the people who wear the costume of Sato (the governors), Daejanggeum (a royal cook of palace), Kumiho (legendary fox with nine tails), Geosang (business magnate in Joseon dynasty), and more interesting characters of the Joseon Dynasty.

Qasrin Ancient Village (SY)

Member of EXARC
No

The Qasrin Ancient Village (Hebrew: קצרין העתיקה‎‎; also Katrzin, Kasrin, Qisrin) is an open-air museum located in the Golan Heights on the outskirts of Katzrin. It features the reconstructed remains of a Talmudic-era village.

The Byzantine (4th – 8th century AD) village was built around a spring. Later Muslim occupation occurred in the Mamluk and modern periods. Although there were standing ruins on the site, archaeological excavations have increased the number of accessible ancient buildings.

Masamuda (NL)

Member of EXARC
Yes

Vlaardingen, not far from Rotterdam hosts a large nature reserve, called Broekpolder. Its size is 400 hectares (almost 1,000 acres), a quarter of the surface of Vlaardingen Municipality. It is an area for walking, mountain biking, et cetera. Masamuda aims to offer children and other people with an interest in the regional archaeology a real-live insight into past settlements in the Dutch delta.

2006, a civil initiative started to prevent the Broekpolder from being overbuilt with new houses. Citizens and the local municipality now cooperate in developing this area. One part of Broekpolder is an archaeological education zone, Masamuda. Vlaardingen has an archaeological past going back very long. Masamuda is meant to reconstruct dwellings from all periods, Stone Age until more recent times. The first house was built in summer 2016, a so called Vlaardingen Culture House.

Fort Ross Conservancy (US)

Member of EXARC
No

Fort Ross was the hub of the southernmost Russian settlements in North America from 1812 to 1842. In those days, Spanish colonialists came from the South into California, The Russians from the north.

Fort Ross is nowadays a California State Historic Park showcasing a historic Russian-era fort compound that has been designated National Historic Landmark status. The 3,400 acre park offers pristine natural landscapes as well as historic structures and exhibits that bring to life the former Imperial Russian settlement, early California Ranch era, and Kashaya territory.