Things to See and Do

The first thing you’ll notice upon entering the museum is Gus, the 103-year-old gopher tortoise, along with other turtles and tortoises in this space. At 3 pm on weekdays, watch Gus take his slow walk through the museum.

To the left and up the ramp past Gus is Pjila’si, an immersive space celebrating Mi’kmaw culture, created in partnership with the Mi’kmaw Advisory Group. Start by exploring the exhibit with a short walk-through. Entering the different sections, you’ll hear Mi’kmaw voices sharing stories through sound cones overhead and videos that you can stop, watch, and listen to.

As you continue, learn about Mi’kmaw territory boundaries, the Grand Council, trade, Mi’kmaw art like quillwork, canoes, and basketry, as well as medicine, nature, and cultural belongings from L’nu sites in the Shubenacadie River.

Throughout the exhibit, you’ll find interactive displays, including one on herbal medicines. Read about how Mi’kmaw medicinal experts used plants to treat specific conditions and discover the names in both Mi’kmaw and English, then press a button to put a spotlight on the plant in its jar.

Try pronouncing Mi’kmaw words yourself—spell out a word, see the translation, and hear it spoken through a large interactive panel. Then listen to Mi’kmaw stories about Kluskap, discover why storytelling is so powerful to the Mi’kmaq, and hear the Mi’kmaw Creation Story. After listening, explore the interactive map to view different regions of Mi’kma’ki.

Further along is the Marine Gallery, where you’ll learn about local ecology, the ocean, and nearby species. This includes exhibits on Sable Island’s wild horses, the Gully (the largest submarine canyon in Eastern North America), seals, sharks, beaches, and interactive games for children.

Visit the intertidal zone, showcasing starfish, crabs, and even a rare blue lobster. Watch the live animal feeding at 10 am, where crabs and lobsters use their claws to grab and eat food.

Familiarize yourself with Nova Scotian forests, plants, and animals (see live snakes and frogs) in the Netukulimk exhibit. The highlight is the live beehive, where a colony of bees produces honey. Watch the bees fly in and out through a tube that connects the hive inside the museum to the outside world.

Science on a Sphere is a room-sized global display that projects Earth and planetary data in real time. View wildfire locations, Earth’s temperature changes, bird migrations, Mars, and more, all displayed on the glowing sphere. On Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am, get a tour of the solar system on the sphere with the latest information from NASA.

In addition to the permanent exhibits, the museum features rotating displays and events. Check out the website for the latest updates.

Planning Your Visit

Admission

• Purchase your ticket at the welcome desk.

Parking

• Paid parking is available at the museum.
• The lot can fill up quickly since many people plan their day around the museum.

Insider Tips

Arrive early in the morning, as parking fills up quickly on busy days (weekends and school vacation times). Consider making a day of it by leaving your car and exploring nearby attractions and restaurants after your museum visit.

Get some fresh air in the backyard. There are picnic tables outside, along with displays about biodiversity, plants, and massive whale bones.