Glovertown, Newfoundland and Labrador: History, Things to Do and Travel Guide
Glovertown is an Alexander Bay town in Newfoundland and Labrador’s Eastern region, close to Terra Nova National Park and the Trans-Canada Highway. Its local story is tied to spruce and fir forests, the Newfoundland Railway, Bonavista Bay resettlement, boat building, trails and the unfinished Old Mill.
For travellers, Glovertown is a practical base or pause near Terra Nova, but it also has its own history to follow. A useful first visit connects the town centre, Janes House Museum, the Old Mill, Ken Diamond Memorial Park and visitor information before heading into the wider park region.
How Glovertown Started
The Town of Glovertown says early settlers stayed to harvest the land and water. By the late 19th century, the Alexander Bay and Glovertown area was known for stands of fir and spruce, and small-scale agriculture, fishing and logging supported local families.
Forestry helped bring the Newfoundland Railway stop at Alexander Bay. Sawmills dotted the bay, and a pulp and paper mill was expected to open in Glovertown in 1922. Financing problems stopped the project, and the incomplete Old Mill remains one of the town’s most visible historic sites.
Glovertown changed again during the 1940s and 1950s, when families from island communities in Bonavista Bay moved or were resettled there. The town incorporated in 1954, with railway movement, resettlement and local industry making it a hub for central Bonavista Bay.
What Glovertown Is Like Today
Statistics Canada counted 1,948 residents in Glovertown in the 2021 census. The town has municipal services, recreation facilities, trails, a visitor information centre, arts spaces, museums and businesses serving both residents and travellers.
Glovertown’s present-day identity still shows its older industries. The official site points to forestry, boat building, railway history, the Terra Nova River, local recreation and the town’s position near Terra Nova National Park. It is both a service community and a place where visitors can read the landscape through old industrial sites and shoreline access.
Things to Do and Places Nearby
Start with the official attractions list. The Old Mill is one of Glovertown’s clearest landmarks, and summer historical walking tours may be available through local visitor information. Janes House Museum, built in 1898 and donated to the town in 2004, interprets early settlement, fishing, boat building, forestry, log drives and resettlement stories.
Ken Diamond Memorial Park adds accessible trails, wetlands, lookouts and local green space. Glovertown also works as a planning point for Terra Nova National Park, where visitors can continue toward hiking, camping, paddling, beaches and winter trails.
If time is limited, use the visitor information centre, walk a short trail, see the Old Mill and check Janes House hours. That gives the town its own shape before the larger national park visit takes over.
Quick Facts
- Province: Newfoundland and Labrador
- Region: Eastern
- Municipality type: town
- 2021 census population: 1,948
- Official website: glovertown.ca
- Main setting: Alexander Bay, near Terra Nova National Park and the Trans-Canada Highway
- Good for: railway history, forestry stories, Old Mill, Janes House Museum, trails, Terra Nova access and visitor services
- Key routes: Trans-Canada Highway and local roads into Glovertown
Travel Notes
Glovertown is easiest by car. Check museum hours, visitor centre season, trail conditions, Terra Nova National Park alerts and winter road reports before travelling.