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Facts About Halifax

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How many of these interesting facts about Halifax do you know?

  • Halifax is home to one of the world's longest downtown boardwalks
  • The 100 Wild Islands is one of the last remaining intact and ecologically rich island groups of its size in North America
  • The Sambro Lighthouse is the oldest functioning lighthouse in North America
  • The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is the oldest and largest Maritime museum in Canada.
  • The Discovery Centre is the largest science centre in Atlantic Canada and home to Atlantic Canada’s first immersive Dome Theatre
  • The Canadian Museum of Immigration is Atlantic Canada’s only national museum
  • The Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market is the longest continuously operating farmers’ market in North America.
  • The Halifax Transit Ferry is the oldest salt-water passenger ferry service in North America.
  • The Halifax Public Gardens is one of the finest surviving examples of a Victorian Garden in North America.
  • The Halifax Waterfront is the most visited attraction in Nova Scotia.
  • Peggy’s Cove is one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world
  • Halifax is home to the greatest man made explosion before the atomic bomb - the Halifax Explosion on Dec. 6, 1917
  • Halifax is home to the First Supreme Court in North America (Oct 21, 1754)
  • The Fairview Lawn Cemetery has the world’s largest collective group of graves from the Titanic tragedy
  • Halifax leases Point Pleasant Park from the British for 1 shilling a year and has a 999 year lease
  • St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Parade Square is the oldest building in Halifax
  • Maugher’s Beach lighthouse, located on McNabs Island was the first lighthouse to be lit with Kerosene
  • There are 6 “Corner Cannons” (half-buried cannons) situated around Halifax and Dartmouth (two are located at Historic Properties!)
  • Canada’s first covered skating rink was opened in the Halifax public gardens in 1883
  • Ambassatours has the largest collection of Antique Double Deckers in the world!
  • The Halifax Citadel National Historic Site is one of the most visited National Historic Site in Canada
  • The Halifax Harbour is one of the deepest and largest natural, ice-free harbours in the world

More Halifax Facts:

  • First public school in Canada
  • Canada's first law school and art college
  • First printed book (1752) and first newspaper in Canada (Halifax Gazette)
  • First place of free speech and freedom of the press in the British Commonwealth
  • First all-electric city lights in North America
  • First naval dockyard in North America and largest on the eastern seaboard north of Norfolk, Virginia
  • Oldest intact executive mansion in North America (Government House circa. 1800)
  • First seat of democratic government in Canada (1758)
  • Location of the first official rules for ice hockey