For any fan of the hit Broadway show Come From Away, a visit to Gander is a must! If you find yourself on the island of Newfoundland, grab a rental car and make the scenic drive out to this small town famously know for its generosity during the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. There are so many sites to see that any fan of the show will immediately recognize from the show. Here is a Come From Away fan’s guide to Gander, Newfoundland!
Visit the Gander Information Center
Your first stop when arriving to Gander should be the Gander Information Center! This building, right off the Trans Canadian Highway is home to the Gander Tourism office. You can stop in and pick up a town map that shows all the Come From Away sites! Each location on the map will have informational panels which gives you more background about the site’s significance. The tourism office is open seven days a week (except for bank holidays, which is unfortunately when we visited!). Even if they are closed, you can enter the lobby of the building through the attached gift shop where you can pick up maps. It’s a perfect first stop to help guide your visit through Gander!
See Come From Away, of course!
For any fan of the show, there is no better place to see it than right in Gander! The show plays each summer for a limited run at the Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre in the heart of the town. I’ve seen Come From Away over a half dozen times around the world (it’s my favorite Broadway show, after all!) and seeing it in Gander was such a unique experience. There are new sets, props, and even some added one-liners in the dialogue to give it a Newfoundland twist. It was the same show, but with its own unique flair. It’s just different enough to make it a special experience! The theatre is small (only about 400 seats) which makes for a local and intimate experience.
Attached to the Arts and Cultural Centre is the Steele Community Centre. This is where they used the ice rink as a large walk-in refrigerator to keep food for the plane people fresh!
North Atlantic Aviation Museum
The North Atlantic Aviation Museum is located right on the Trans Canada Highway and is a highlight for visiting Gander (whether you’re a fan of Come From Away or not)! The museum outlines the fascinating history of the Gander airport, transforming it from a remote, isolated town to one of the busiest airports in the world. It also highlights the first transatlantic flights and how the airline industry has rapidly grown since. The museum is also home to a partial steel beam from the Twin Towers. During the aftermath of 9/11 in Gander, the museum opened their doors free of charge for the stranded plane people.
Gander Town Hall & Compassion Memorial
Right in the center of town is Gander Town Hall. What makes this town hall special, is that is home to the Compassion Monument, which is a piece of steel from the World Trade Center atop a 9,000 pound slab of granite. The steel was gifted to the town of Gander by the Bethpage Fire Department on Long Island, NY. This gift, which is shown during the closing scenes of Come From Away, was given to Gander on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 in 2011.
Gander International Airport
And no trip to Gander is complete without visiting where the story starts: at the airport! Gander International Airport (YQX) is located right in town and is free to visit. Free parking is also available by following signs for the International Lounge. The International Lounge is a wonderful area in the airport. It’s like stepping back in time to a perfectly preserved 1959 mid-century modern airport terminal. This is where the plane people first stepped foot in Gander! Up above the International Lounge on the mezzanine level is a small museum about Come From Away and the events in the town those days.
Take time to also wander through the main terminal and departure area. It’s fascinating to see this small, rural airport at work. Only a handful of planes come and go each day. It’s truly unique!
Gander Academy
In the heart of town is Gander Academy, which housed plane people from four flights. Almost 800 passengers from Hungarian Air 090, Sabena 539, Lufthansa 416, and Virgin Air 21 took refuge here. Led by Beulah Cooper, both teachers and students volunteered their time to feed, house, and provide clothing to stranded passengers. They offered internet, phones, and TVs to help keep people connected. A major site in the show, and delightful to see and experience in person!
Elks Lodge & Royal Candian Legion
Just off the Trans Canada Highway, you will also find the Elks Lodge and the Royal Canadian Legion. The Elks Lodge housed plane people from an Aer Lingus flight en route from Ireland to New York. Members of the lodge volunteered their time and transformed this lodge into a sleeping area for the stranded passengers. Just down the street is the Royal Canadian Legion, where many of the plane people got Screeched In as official Newfoundlanders!
Gander Fire Rescue
Gander Fire Rescue is a volunteer fire department located on the north edge of town. This is where Beulah’s son volunteered as a firefighter. She connected with two plane people (notably Hannah) who also had children who were firefighters. Another reminder of the selfless volunteers who did so much in Gander in the aftermath of 9/11!
Traveling soon? Check out my Travel Tips page to help you score good deals on flights, packing tips, tools to help you plan, and more!
No Comments