Current exhibits on display at the Cambridge Museum
A Cambridge Timeline
Cambridge – “The Town of Trees and Champions” – beautiful and iconic. But what was here before people arrived? Why did they settle here? Come trace the history of an area rich in resources, later…
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Growing up in Cambridge
In the early days, most schools were small enough to fit in one room. Books were scarce and sports equipment hard to come by. Hockey sticks were just that, sticks found in the woods and…
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Building a Town
In 1864, surveyors mapped out a British-style framework for the town, and gradually shops, hotels, schools and homes filled in the spaces. Unformed roads, scattered houses and drab buildings is how a visitor to Cambridge…
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Reading the Signs
Ever wondered about the history behind your street name in Cambridge? Let us help you. Our “Reading the signs” booklet teaches you how street names are chosen, some of the more interesting names, and an…
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Le Quesnoy – A Sister Town
Cambridge and Le Quesnoy in France officially became sister towns in 2000, although their connection began during World War I. While none of the ladder-climbing soldiers at the Liberation of Le Quesnoy were from Cambridge,…
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Memories of Brownies and Guides
Karen Hunwick shares her memories. Being a Brownie and Guide meant learning handy outdoor and indoor skills as a ten year old that can still be useful more than sixty years later.
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Running for Generations
A celebration of the Cambridge Harrier Club’s 75th Anniversary. Read about our obsession with long distance and cross-country running, compare the running gear of today with the 1930s, and find out where the name “Harrier”…
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Printing press
Not much is known about the printing press on display. Some believe it may have printed Māori-language leaflets at the Te Kauwhanganui parliament in Maungakawa during the 1890s. To imagine how it might have worked,…
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Square Piano
The piano on display is one of the oldest in New Zealand. This video gives us an idea of how it would have sounded. Video source: Greenaway Studio (Canberra, Australia) Maria Arnold brought with her…
MORECome in and explore
We share some of the many voices and stories of the people who have changed Cambridge Te Oko Horoi.
Our Timeline wall maps out significant events in the area from 1300. It tells the story of the lives of the Ngāti Koroki Kahukura and Ngāti Hauā people, the mana whenua of this area, who transformed the banks of the river and Lake Te Kō Utu into gardens filled with kūmara, taro, gourd and tropical yam. It offers fascinating insights into the establishment of the town, law and order, schooling, hydro electric power and much more.
Our surrounding displays look at ways people have made their living here over time – including family-run farms, fruiterers, butcheries, hotels and restaurants. The role of builders, surveyors and policy makers in the shaping of our town also feature, as do some well-loved items from young ones who have grown up in the town and the surrounding area.