Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre, Cape Race

06/26/2025

🚨 ATTENTION, VISITORS TO MISTAKEN POINT 🚨
Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc. and the management of Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve UNESCO World Heritage Site express serious concern over the growing number of unauthorized entries by tourists into the protected fossil site without a guide.
Since the beginning of the 2025 tourism season, there has been an increase in violations, with visitors entering the Reserve independently, in direct violation of clearly defined regulations. We remind all guests:
📌 Access to the fossil site is ONLY permitted as part of an official guided tour.
This rule is enforced under the:
• Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act (RSNL 1990, c. W9)
• Fossil Ecological Reserve Regulations
🔒 The following actions are strictly prohibited within the Reserve:
• Independent entry or hiking without official authorization
• Touching, collecting, removing, or damaging fossils
• Use of vehicles or equipment without a permit
⚠️ Violating these rules is a legal offence. Penalties under Section 24 of the Wilderness and Ecological Reserves Act include:
Section 24 – Offences and Penalties
(a) First offence: $200–$1,000 fine or up to 3 months imprisonment, or both
(b) Second offence: $500–$2,000 fine or 6 months imprisonment
(c) Third or further offence: $1,000–$10,000 or up to 1 year imprisonment
(d) Corporations: $5,000–$20,000 fine
“A person who contravenes these regulations is guilty of an offence under section 24 of the Act.” — Fossil Ecological Reserve Regulations
🚫 Unauthorized entry is not only illegal — it’s also dangerous: unstable surfaces, steep cliffs, and sudden tides put your safety at serious risk.
📲 Full visitation rules are available at our official website www.mistakenpoint.ca
🔍 Your guide will review these rules with you at the start of your tour — this is required by law and essential for everyone’s safety.
✅ The Rookery and Freshwater Cove remain open to self-guided visitors.
We strongly recommend visiting the Mistaken Point Interpretation Centre first to get updated safety info on:
• Weather
• Tides
• Risk zones
• Access times and safe trails
🛑 Mistaken Point is not just a UNESCO site — it is a global scientific treasure. Protecting it is your responsibility, too.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc.
Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

📢 Hashtags:

Visit the exact location where ‘life got big’. Walk amongst the world’s richest collection of Ediacaran fossils and explore the rugged coastal beauty of Mistaken Point and it’s surrounding neighbours.

06/19/2025

📖 Storytelling at Cape Race – July 10, 2025

Join us for an unforgettable evening of storytelling at the Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre, Cape Race, where myth, mystery, and maritime history come alive in the voice of Riley Pennell, local historian and author of “A Crossing Inexplicable”.

🗓 Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
🕔 Time: 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre, Cape Race
🎟 Admission: Free (Donations welcome)

🔹 Featured Stories Include:
• The Long Beach Mickeleens (1953): Local legends of “fairy-folk” and unexplained vanishings
• The Wreckers of Trepassey (1857): Gold, corruption, and desperation meet on the coast
• The Man Who Cried Wreck (1891): A mysterious figure and a message no one believed
• John Dart, the Trepassey Turncoat (1779): A man, a war, and a life-changing decision

These tales, drawn from the rugged shores of Trepassey Bay, are a powerful mix of fact, folklore, and forgotten history — told where the past still lingers in the air.

📞 To attend, please reserve in advance:
Call 709-438-1100 (Nataliia ) or email [email protected]

🌊 Come feel the stories carried by the wind, and shared by those who know the coast.

Wireless Interpretation Centre

06/15/2025

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1116742913820625&id=100064547807712

One Ticket! One Thousand Dollars! One Big Impact!
What if one ticket could change your month — and help protect one of the most extraordinary places on Earth?

With “Grand in Your Hand”, you have the chance to win $1,000, while supporting the work of Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc. — the team behind the preservation of Mistaken Point, Cape Race, and the stories that make this coastline unforgettable.

🎟 Limited tickets available — better odds for every player
🌊 Proceeds go directly to educational programs, storytelling events, heritage protection, and community engagement along the Edge of Avalon.

Whether you’re a longtime supporter, a proud local, or just someone who loves the coast — this is your chance to win big and give back.

📞 Call us at 709-438-1100

Thank you for supporting the legacy of Mistaken Point and Cape Race. Good luck — and we hope to place a grand in your hand this season!

06/12/2025

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Theresa M. O’Leary

06/04/2025

🎉 Cape Race Heritage Days 2025

📍 Portugal Cove South | Irish Loop
📅 August 1–3, 2025

Join us for three days of celebration, connection, and community pride at the 22nd Annual Cape Race Heritage Days!

This beloved tradition brings together local residents, visitors, and returning families to honour the deep heritage of the Cape Race and Portugal Cove South region — from maritime legends to family stories, music, and good old-fashioned fun.

Here’s what to expect:

🪑 Storytelling & Family History
🎶 Live Music & Dance
🔥 Bonfire by the Beach & Fireworks
👧 Kids’ Day Activities
🎯 Games, Races & Friendly Competition
🏅 Co****le Tournament & Prizes
🕊️ Cemetery Mass & Community Gathering
🎁 Local Craft, Food & Heritage Displays

Whether you’re from around the bay or visiting for the first time, you’ll feel right at home. Come celebrate the coast, the culture, and the people that make this place unforgettable.

📣 All are welcome — see you in Portugal Cove South!

06/02/2025

05/18/2025

🌊 Become a Member of Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc.! 🦠

Step into history, science, and heritage at the very edge of Newfoundland — where life first got BIG. 🌍

We’re inviting new and returning members to join us in protecting and promoting the incredible natural and cultural landmarks of the Edge of Avalon Heritage Coast.

🦴 Explore some of the oldest fossils on Earth at the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve – a UNESCO World Heritage Site
🌊 Visit the historic Cape Race Lighthouse and Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre, where the Titanic's SOS was first received
🎫 Enjoy free tours of the Mistaken Point Interpretation Centre Exhibits and Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre, discounts, and exclusive updates
🛍️ Get 10% off at our artisan gift shops
📬 Stay in the loop with newsletters and event alerts
🛡️ Support the preservation of our heritage for future generations

Whether you're passionate about history, science, nature, or community — there's a place for you here.

📩 To sign up or renew your membership, message us or email: [email protected]

👉 Be part of something BIG. Join today!

04/20/2025

Wishing You a Joyful and Peaceful Easter!

As spring awakens the cliffs, meadows, and coastlines of the Southern Avalon, we at Mistaken Point Cape Race Heritage Inc. and the Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve — UNESCO World Heritage Site send our warmest Easter greetings to our cherished local community and to visitors from across Newfoundland and around the world.

May this season of renewal fill your hearts with hope, your homes with harmony, and your paths with new discoveries.

And speaking of new beginnings — we are thrilled to announce that the Mistaken Point Interpretation Centre and guided fossil site tours will reopen to the public on May 17, 2025!

Join us this season to explore one of the Earth’s most extraordinary stories, preserved in 565-million-year-old fossils and brought to life through the voices, landscapes, and heritage of this special place.

Let the season inspire you — and let Mistaken Point welcome you.

04/15/2025

April 15, 1912 – A Night the World Will Never Forget!

In the early hours of April 15, 1912, the RMS Titanic—hailed as the greatest ship of her time—slipped beneath the icy waters of the North Atlantic. Just four days into her maiden voyage, a collision with an iceberg sealed her fate. Over 1,500 people perished in what remains one of the deadliest maritime disasters in history.

But the Titanic didn’t vanish without a trace.

As chaos unfolded aboard the sinking ship, a crackling signal reached the rugged coast of Newfoundland. Cape Race—an isolated stretch of land battered by Atlantic winds—was the last place Titanic made contact with the world. The wireless operators stationed there were among the first to hear the ship’s desperate Morse code: “CQD… CQD… SOS…” It was the birth of the modern maritime distress call.

Here’s something many don’t know:
One of the wireless operators at Cape Race, James Myrick received the messeges that night—some panicked, some eerily calm—were later used to piece together the Titanic’s final hours.

Another haunting detail:
Multiple passengers reported seeing strange flashes on the horizon before the iceberg hit—some believed it was another ship. To this day, the identity of that supposed ship, often called the “mystery vessel,” remains debated. Some claimed it was the SS Californian, others suggest it may have been a phantom ship… lost in fog and silence.

At the Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre, located at Cape Race, this chilling and powerful history comes alive. The Centre holds rare artifacts, including replicas of original wireless equipment, authentic Morse transmissions, personal letters, and newspaper reports from the days that followed the disaster.

Visitors can listen to re-creations of the actual messages received that night, stand in the very spot where the signals arrived, and explore how a remote corner of Newfoundland became the final link between Titanic and the world.

We are proud to announce that the Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre will reopen to the public in July 2025. Whether you’re a local history enthusiast, a curious traveler, or someone who has always felt a quiet fascination with Titanic, we warmly invite you to walk into this living story.

Come feel the wind of Cape Race. Come hear the signal in the silence.

01/25/2025

Step Back in Time to 1922 at Cape Race!

This incredible story was kindly provided to us by Riley Pennell, who discovered and studied it in the Centre for Newfoundland Studies.

In April of 1922, the Marconi Company’s Wireless Telephone Broadcasting station at 240 Water Street conducted a fascinating test with their station at Cape Race. The results? Crystal-clear transmission of speech and music! The highlight of the day was a gramophone record of “The Banks of Newfoundland,” which played so loudly that the operators at Cape Race danced a jig in the office. Imagine the excitement of hearing music and speech travel across the airwaves for the first time!

We’re thrilled to announce that the Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre at Cape Race will reopen for the 2025 tourist season this July. Come and explore the rich history of Cape Race, including artifacts and stories like this one, that celebrate the pioneering days of wireless communication.

We look forward to welcoming both locals and tourists to discover this fascinating part of our history!

01/19/2025

01/19/2025

🌊 Discover the history of the Titanic at the Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre on Cape Race, Newfoundland next tourist season 2025! 🚢

The Titanic tragedy has given rise to many mysterious stories, shrouded in mysticism and strange coincidences.

Morgan Robertson's novel «Futility, or the Wreck of the Titan» is one of the most mysterious literary works due to its incredible coincidences with the real Titanic disaster. Written in 1898, 14 years before the sinking of the famous liner, the novel describes the wreck of a huge ship that almost completely corresponds to the real tragic event.

The book tells about a ship called the Titan, the greatest steamship of its time. It was considered not only the largest, but also virtually unsinkable. Despite this, during its maiden voyage across the North Atlantic, the ship collided with an iceberg and sank. This led to the death of most of the passengers, as there were not enough lifeboats on board.

The main character, former sailor John Rowland, ended up on board the Titan as a simple worker. After the disaster, he survives and finds himself at the center of a story about the struggle for life, as well as moral and spiritual quests. However, the central theme of the novel remains the fate of the ship and its tragic collapse.

Coincidences between the Titan and the Titanic!

Many details described in the novel are almost identical to real events that took place 14 years later. Here are the main coincidences:
1. The name of the ship:
• The fictional ship is called the Titan, almost identical to the real Titanic.
2. Dimensions and characteristics:
• The length of the Titan in the book is 800 feet, and the Titanic is 882 feet.
• The Titan weighs 75,000 tons, the Titanic - 53,000 tons.
• Both ships were described as the largest, fastest and most luxurious ships of their time.
3. Lack of lifeboats:
• The Titan had only 24 lifeboats, despite the fact that the ship could accommodate about 3,000 people. The Titanic also had insufficient lifeboats (they were only enough for half of the passengers).
4. Speed ​​and collision:
• Both ships collided with an iceberg while traveling at high speed (25 knots in the novel and about 22 knots in reality).
• The disasters occurred at night, in April, in the cold waters of the North Atlantic.
5. Location and circumstances of the wreck:
• The Titan sank in the same Atlantic waters as the Titanic, and the cause was similar - a hole in the hull from a collision with an iceberg.

The novel "Futility" did not attract the attention of the general public for a long time. However, after the Titanic disaster in 1912, the book received attention due to its many coincidences. This gave rise to rumors that Morgan Robertson had the gift of foresight or somehow knew about the future tragedy.

After the Titanic tragedy, the novel was republished with a new title, The Sinking of the Titan. This made the book popular, and it still arouses the interest of researchers and lovers of mysticism. Many see it not only as a prediction, but also as a warning about the dangers of human self-confidence and disregard for safety.

Today, Morgan Robertson's book is not only a rare example of mystical coincidences, but also a reminder of how ambition and the desire for glory can lead to tragic consequences.

We are proud to announce that in July 2025, the doors of our Myrick Wireless Interpretation Centre on Cape Race, Newfoundland will open to everyone who wants to touch the history of the legendary Titanic. 🌟

You will learn:
• How exactly Cape Race played a key role in transmitting distress signals from the Titanic on that fateful night.
• The amazing mystical connection between Morgan Robertson's novel Futility, or the Sinking of the Titan, written 14 years before the tragedy, and the real story of the Titanic.
• True stories of heroism, technology and communication in the era of the development of radio telegraphy.

How could a prophetic novel anticipate events so similar to a real disaster? How did Cape Race become a bridge between a perishing ship and the world? Find the answers in our fascinating exhibition!

We look forward to welcoming tourists and locals to join you in exploring the interactive exhibits and touching on this mysterious and tragic chapter of world heritage.