Halifax is considered to be one of the smallest cities in Canada. But the capital of Nova Scotia is a wealth of culture, history, and contemporary art. The following museums and galleries are some of the standout options in the downtown core with great permanent collections.

Here are the Best Museums in Halifax, Nova Scotia

 

1. Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21

 

The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is Canada’s national museum of immigration. This museum is also known as Pier 21. It is one of the nine national museums and is recognized as a national historic site. In 2011, Pier 21 became a national museum that is run by the Canadian federal government. This museum holds a significant place in the country’s history and culture. Visiting this museum people can understand the country’s diverse cultural heritage. The museum exhibition space is spread over 900 square meters. They display a wide range of exhibits, artifacts, and installations that narrate immigration stories in Canada.

2. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

 

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is the oldest and largest maritime museum. It is situated in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. The museum was founded in 1948. This museum boasts a vast collection of over 30,000 artifacts, providing a comprehensive insight into the region’s maritime history. Visitors can find permanent exhibits such as the Days of Sailand the Age of Steam, and explore Halifax’s link to the infamous disasters like the sinking of the Titanic or the Halifax Explosion. The Maritime Museum has a collection of 30,000 artifacts, photographs, and a large collection of charts and rare books.

3. Naval Museum of Halifax

 

The Naval Museum is a Canadian Forces museum located at CFB Halifax. The museum is also known as Admiralty House. It is a  National Historic Site of Canada. The Naval Museum collects, preserves, and displays the artifacts and history of the Royal Canadian Navy. It was completed in 1819 as the summer residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the North American Station. From 1925 to 1954, the museum became part of the Royal Canadian Navy.

It served as Wardroom Officer’s Mess and later as office space. The museum became the library for the Royal Canadian Navy and provided classroom space in 1961. There are more than 30 rooms of exhibits open to the public and grounds that display weapons and equipment from the Canadian Navy. Its collection consists of uniforms, model ships, medals, badges, ships’ bells, armaments, and other equipment of naval life. The Naval Museum also maintains a research library, archives, and a large photography collection.

4. Museum of Natural History

The Museum of Natural History is in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is a museum dedicated to natural history and archaeology. This museum has a rich history dating back to 1868. The Museum of Natural History houses many exhibits like artifacts from the Mi’kmaq, scientific apparatus, fossils and minerals, animals, paintings, and prints. They also have many activities for kids, such as a tortoise named Gus and a scavenger hunt that all visitors can do. The museum’s botanical department is home to more than 60,000 pieces. This includes around 20,000 vascular plants, which are plants with conducting tissues, and 25,000 non-vascular plants. The museum offers a comprehensive overview of the plant life in the region.

5. Ross Farm Museum

 

Ross Farm Museum is an agricultural museum. That is located in New Ross, Nova Scotia. This museum provides an opportunity to explore Nova Scotia’s rural heritage and learn about its agrarian history. The exhibits at the Ross Farm Museum are diverse and engaging, featuring working artisans, live animals, historic buildings, and antique implements and furnishings. Visitors can landmark buildings filled with antique furnishings. They can witness artisans at work, and interact with farm animals. The buildings over here are all perfect, the animals are all heritage species, and the farm work is done using traditional methods.