The Ryan House is a group of 19th and early 20th century heritage buildings in Bonavista, a town of 3,700 people on Newfoundland's northeast coast. It is the oldest and largest of hundreds of offshore fishing communities - "harbours" - that have been bustling with the small boats of the offshore fishing industry and the catamarans of the international cod trade for centuries. Once the headquarters of James Ryan, Newfoundland's famous fish merchant, the Bonavista Museum features five major white clapboard buildings featuring local artifacts that tell the fascinating story of this historic community, as well as exhibits of traditional Newfoundland harbour furniture, rotating art exhibits featuring fishing-related works, and the award-winning "Cod, Seals and Survivors" exhibit, which features evocative displays, archival films and hands-on activities. Knowledgeable docents ...