Canada’s oldest and largest Maritime Museum is nestled in amongst the piers and boatsheds of the Halifax harbour. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a historical, educational and cultural landmark, and a tribute to Halifax’s rich maritime history. Find out all about this shipping history with the stories of significant people and events. Steamships, local watercraft, the Royal Canadian Navy, World War fleets and the famous Halifax Explosion of 1917 are just some of the topics and events explored through displays at the museum.
Immerse yourself in the mysterious shipwreck stories of Nova Scotia and learn about Halifax’s role in the Titanic disaster. Discover what Halifax looked like before the catastrophic explosion of 1917 through stories told by survivors, photographs and artifacts from the time. Walk aboard the century-old CSS Acadia, the “Grand Old Lady” that survived both World Wars and the Halifax Explosion and now rests in the Halifax harbour.
Admission to this growing archive of maritime heritage is low cost and cheaper still in the off-peak winter season. The museum is open every day during summer and closed on Mondays in winter. Take a guided tour for an in-depth experience, or return in the evening to attend one of the museum’s talks, presentations and performances. Stop by the Marine Heritage Store, located inside the museum, to pick up souvenirs, gifts and historical fiction and non-fiction books for junior seafarers and old sea dogs.
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is located in the heart of the historic harborfront. Come by bus or ferry. The museum is only a three-minute walk from the Halifax Ferry Terminal. Alternatively, wander along the Halifax Harborwalk, a two-mile (three-kilometre) boardwalk that crosses the whole length of the city’s downtown centre. Public artworks and a selection of cafes, restaurants and bars can be found along the waterfront.