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Photo: Acunsolo, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Whalers from the Basque region (northern Spain and southern France) hunted right and bowhead whales for their oil during the mid- to late 1500s, using the sheltered harbour of Red Bay as a seasonal base of operation for 70 years until whales became scarce. A group of 1560s shipwrecks were discovered in 1978 and an underwater archaeological site established. The site includes remains of rendering ovens, cooperages, wharves, whale bones, living quarters and a cemetery. Red Bay Basque Whaling Station is one of four UNESCO World Heritage sites in the province (the others are Mistaken Point, Gros Morne park and L'Anse-aux-Meadows Viking settlement).
The Red Bay National Historic Site is a National Historic Site of Canada located in Red Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. This on-land and underwater archaeological site marks one of the best preserved Basque whaling station locations of the 16th century and covers 600 hectares. In 1979, Red Bay was declared a National Historic Site and in 2013, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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Water taxi service to Saddle Island for Red Bay National Historic Site ($3/passenger), sightseeing trips with icebergs, whales and wildlife.
Established 1978 by Southern Labrador Women's Institute, exhibits and artefacts describe the local way of life over the last 150 years. A small souvenir shop carries local crafts.