Many of the attractions of Halifax are based around the port, or at the port itself. One of them is the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic – the oldest and largest Maritime Museum in Canada, initially found in 1948 and operating in its current building since 1982. The visitors are introduced to over 30,000 artefacts, including 70 small craft and a steamship, representing the age of steamships, the Royal Canadian and Merchant Navies, World War II convoys and The Battle of the Atlantic, the Halifax Explosion of 1917 and the role of Nova Scotia in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster.
Get to know more of the French and British past of Halifax by visiting Halifax Citadel National Historic Site of Canada. Originally built as a military fortification to protect the Empire from enemies and the occasional pirate, today the Citadel and its Clock Tower are a reminder of Halifax’s rich past. Visit a place and time where the sounds of a modern, bustling port city are exchanged for the crack of rifle-fire and the skirl of bagpipes.
Visit the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Canada was profoundly shaped by immigration and this museum aims to inspire and enable Canadians and visitors alike to explore their own links to immigration. The museum occupies part of Pier 21, where Canada’s last remaining immigration shed was from 1928 to 1971. The building is to Halifax what Ellis Island is to New York and more than a million people have entered Canada here. There is also a commemoration of the 500,000 and more Canadians that departed the port to take part in World War II.
For a more fun look into the history of the city, book a tasting at Alexander Keith’s brewery – the oldest brewery in North America. Don’t miss the trying the most popular brew – Alexander Keith’s India Pale Ale. Go to the Art gallery of Nova Scotia – the largest art museum of Atlantic Canada. The gallery displays more then 17,000 works from classical portraits to Nova Scotian folk art to Inuit stone carvings. The Grand Parade of Halifax is the oldest square of Halifax, used for military activities. St Paul`s Anglican Church – the oldest Protestant church in Canada and the oldest building in Halifax is at the south end of the Parade and the City Hall of Halifax is at its north end.
If you would rather spend time outside, breathing the fresh Atlantic breeze, head over to Halifax’s Public Gardens – the oldest Victorian Garden in North America, opened in 1867 – the year of the Canadian Confederation. This 16-acre oasis in the heart of downtown Halifax is now a National Historic Site of Canada and it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Take a ferry to the Fisherman’s Cove – a restored 200-year old fishing village that offers a glimpse of the past and a variety of activities to enjoy from deep-sea fishing to Maritime arts and crafts. Go to McNobs island and take a walk around the two historical forts – Fort McNab and Fort Ives. Take the oldest running salt-water ferry service in North America to Dartmouth – it began in 1752 and is now used by over 3000 commuters a day. Snap some pictures at Peggy’s Point Lighthouse – this classic red and white lighthouse is one of the most photographed lighthouses in Atlantic Canada and one of the most recognizable lighthouses in the world.