About The Nipigon Historical Museum

The Nipigon Historical Museum offers an engaging look at the history, culture, and stories that have shaped the communities along the North Shore. Located in downtown Nipigon, the museum boasts a small but rich collection of artifacts and local treasures that give visitors a deeper understanding of life in the region, from ancient times to the present day.

Nipigon is home of the world record brook trout, and the museum’s extensive fishing exhibit highlights this famed fish. Caught on the Nipigon River by Dr. J.W. Cook, with the assistance of local Indigenous guides on July 21, 1915, it is a record that still stands today. Visit the museum to see a life-sized replica of the 14.5 lb, 31.5-inch fish, the actual fly rod and reel it was caught on, and the remains of the original skin mount, which was severely damaged in a 1970 museum fire.

The museum also highlights the deep Indigenous history of the area, including the traditions and knowledge of the Red Rock Indian Band. Exhibits explore early travel routes, the importance of the Nipigon River, and the ways people lived, traded, and moved through this landscape long before modern settlement.