Things to See and Do

The first exhibit you’ll walk through is the Naval Gallery, where you can learn about the foundation of Halifax and the lead-up to World War II, see ship models and the convoy display, and explore information about the merchant navy. Don’t miss the African Nova Scotian migration map, which details their origins and the story of Emancipation Day, the date the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 took effect across the British Empire. 

Next, step into Ta’n me’j Tel-keknuo’ltiek: How Unique We Still Are, an exhibit examining how Mi’kmaw people are connected to the lands and waters of Mi’kma’ki. This exhibit is presented in three languages: Mi’kmaq, English, and French. Other touchpoints of the exhibit can be found in the naval and age of steams galleries such as the red dress movement, along with other cultural connections and histories.

As you walk in, a five-minute video projection loops across the floor and walls, with sounds of Nova Scotian wildlife, rivers, and rocks that children love to jump between. Take in the districts of Mi’kma’ki, and recreate your own petroglyphs like the eight-pointed star. You’ll also learn about treaty education, water protection, and birch bark canoe-making. 

Artifacts, photographs, and panels telling the story of the 1917 Halifax Explosion come next. Take in the history behind the two ships that collided to create the greatest manmade explosion of its time, and view fragments from one of the ships, SS Mont-Blanc.  

Upstairs, the shipwreck exhibit showcases notable maritime disasters and recovered artifacts. Learn about the storms, ocean currents, and microorganisms that get in researchers’ way, and the origins of vessels whose wrecks created global scandals and local mysteries.  

Continuing the theme of tragic voyages, the Titanic exhibit showcases artifacts from the ship, including information about the classes of passengers, their cabins, and their personal keepsakes. The collection is so extensive that researchers from the film Titanic (1997) visited the museum to study its artifacts in preparation for filming.  

Next, find yourself walking on 100-plus-year-old wooden planks sourced from original vessels—including one from the 1750s—in the Days of Sail exhibit. This exhibit features numerous ship models and information about sail making, the golden age of sails, and the fishing industry. 

Moving on through the Age of Sail exhibit, find models and portraits, and different types of tall ships, along with rotating educational films about Nova Scotian history and culture in the warehouse theatre. 

Outside the museum on the Halifax Waterfront, explore the restored vessels in the boat shop or step aboard the CSS Acadia, which served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1913 until 1969. 

Aboard the Acadia, freely roam the deck of the ship before taking a guided tour below deck, where a beautifully preserved wooden interior reveals the ship’s rich history. The vessel’s history is displayed on numerous interpretive panels on the museum wharf year-round. 

Planning Your Visit

• Purchase tickets at the welcome desk.
• Admission is free on Tuesdays from 4 pm to 8 pm for the museum’s community nights. Donations for Feed Nova Scotia are welcome. 
• CSS Acadia is only open in the summer and fall (weather permitting). 

Insider Tips

Check out the observation deck, equipped with tables and seats with a gorgeous view of the waterfront and Halifax Harbour. 

And if you’re going to the museum as a family, children love the museum’s scavenger hunt, available in English and French.