Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

Nestled along the picturesque waterfront of Halifax, Nova Scotia, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic stands as a beacon of maritime heritage and history. As the oldest and largest maritime museum in Canada, it offers a captivating journey through time, exploring the rich nautical traditions of the Atlantic region. With over 30,000 artifacts, including 70 small craft and the esteemed CSS Acadia, this museum is a treasure trove for maritime enthusiasts and curious visitors alike.

The Historical Journey

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic has a storied past that dates back to its founding in 1948. Initially known as the Maritime Museum of Canada, it was situated at the Canadian Forces Base Halifax. For many years, naval officers volunteered to oversee the museum until Niels Jannasch was appointed director in 1959, a position he held until 1985. The museum relocated several times over the next three decades before finding its permanent home in 1981 as part of the Halifax waterfront redevelopment program.

The museum’s location on the bustling waterfront provides it with several piers and boat sheds, offering a strategic view of the Halifax harbor. This prime spot allows visitors to witness the maritime activities that have defined Halifax for centuries. The museum’s facilities include the historic Robertson Store, dating back to the 1880s, and the modern Devonian Wing, which houses contemporary exhibition galleries.

Exploring the Collections

With an extensive collection of over 30,000 artifacts, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic provides a comprehensive look into the maritime history of the Atlantic region. The collection includes 30,000 photographs, a vast array of maps, and rare books. The Niels Jannasch Library, named after the museum’s founding director, is a public reference library that offers invaluable resources for maritime research.

Among the museum’s prized possessions is the largest collection of ship portraits in Canada, including the oldest known ship portrait. The museum also boasts an impressive array of ship models, including the original production models from the beloved television show Theodore Tugboat. One of the museum’s ongoing projects is the restoration of a 1937 C-class sloop, which can be seen in one of the boat sheds on the wharf behind the museum.

During the summer months, visitors can also see three operational boats from the museum’s collection of small craft docked alongside the CSS Acadia. In July 2017, the museum completed the restoration of the Hebridee II, a small schooner that adds to the museum’s impressive fleet.

Fascinating Exhibitions

The museum’s public galleries feature a variety of exhibitions that delve into different aspects of maritime history. One of the most poignant exhibitions explores the sinking of the Titanic, highlighting Nova Scotia’s role in recovering the bodies of the victims. This exhibition includes the largest collection of wooden Titanic artifacts in the world, including one of the few remaining deck chairs. The exhibition also features a pair of shoes that played a crucial role in identifying the “unknown child” of the Titanic as Sidney Leslie Goodwin.

Another notable exhibition, “Treasures of Nova Scotia Shipwrecks,” showcases the many shipwrecks off the coast of Nova Scotia. The exhibition includes archaeological finds from wrecks in Louisbourg Harbor and a 1750s schooner from Lower Prospect, Nova Scotia. Visitors can also see treasures recovered from wrecks off Cape Breton, including weapons, instruments, gold, and silver from ships such as the HMS Feversham (1711), the military transport Chameau (1725), and the ship Auguste (1761).

The Age of Steam gallery features a special exhibition on Samuel Cunard, the Nova Scotian founder of the Cunard Line. The restored Robertson Store from the 1880s includes a fully restored shipchandler, complete with foghorns, ropes, and other ship accessories.

The Navy gallery includes the “Convoy” exhibition, which explores the Battle of the Atlantic and includes the Canadian Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance. Outside the museum, visitors can find the Canadian and Norwegian Merchant Navy memorials, as well as a unique submarine-shaped playground for children.

The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions. In 2009, “Ship of Fate: The Tragic Voyage of the St. Louis” was the first Canadian exhibition to explore the journey of the St. Louis, which carried 963 German Jews fleeing Nazi Germany in 1939. In 2011, the museum became the first in North America to present an exhibition on the lives of gay sailors with “Hello Sailor: Gay Life on the Ocean Waves,” adapted from an exhibition at the Merseyside Maritime Museum in Liverpool, England. The 2012 exhibition examined the experiences of cable ships based in Halifax that recovered most of the victims of the Titanic disaster.

The Ships

The CSS Acadia, a steam-powered hydrographic survey ship built in 1913, served as a research vessel until 1968 and patrolled during both World Wars. The museum also preserves 70 small craft on display in the craft gallery and boat sheds, including the ketch Elson Perry, the S-class sloops Windekilda and Valkyrie, and the schooner Hebridee II. While the HMCS Sackville, a Second World War corvette, is docked next to the museum during the summer, it is not part of the museum’s collection but collaborates with the museum to provide insights into the Royal Canadian Navy.

Events and Activities

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic’s waterfront location makes it a hub for significant public events. It has been a stop on many Canadian federal election campaigns and hosted meetings during the 1995 G7 Summit. In 2006, the museum held a commemorative event for the September 11 attacks, attended by Canadian Foreign Minister Peter MacKay and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. The museum organizes an annual commemoration of the Battle of the Atlantic on the first Sunday in May and a Canadian Merchant Navy commemoration every September 3.

In conclusion, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is not just a repository of maritime artifacts but a living testament to the seafaring history that has shaped Nova Scotia and Canada. Its exhibitions, collections, and events offer a profound insight into the maritime legacy of the Atlantic, making it an essential destination for anyone visiting Halifax.