How many of these Hali-Facts did you already 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
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) hidden 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
Halifax leases Point Pleasant Park from the British for 1 shilling a year!
St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Parade Square is the oldest building in Halifax
Ambassatours Gray Line owns the world’s largest collection of Antique Double Decker buses outside of the UK!
Despite being located 290 km offshore from Halifax, Sable Island National Park Reserve is part of the Halifax region!
The Halifax Harbour is one of the deepest and largest natural, ice-free harbours in the world (Port of Halifax)
Atlantic Canada Aviation Museum is Canada’s only Museum devoted to preserving, displaying and sharing all aspects of Atlantic Canada’s aviation heritage.
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
- The Halifax Common, in local popular usage more often referred to as the Commons, is a Canadian urban park in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is Canada’s oldest urban park.
Please send us an email if you know of an interesting fact about Halifax that we haven’t listed here.
