Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, located on the historic Halifax waterfront, is the marine history division of the Nova Scotia Museum, a family of 26 museums operated by the Province of Nova Scotia.

The mandate of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is to create for all an awareness, appreciation and understanding of Nova Scotia's marine heritage through collection, preservation, research, interpretation and exhibition.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is the oldest and largest Maritime Museum in Canada. Having celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1998, the Museum has developed a unique history of its own. After years of relocations, floods and fires, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic was established on the site of the historic William Robertson & Son Ship Chandlery and A.M. Smith and Co. Properties in 1982. Since then, over three million people have visited the Museum (244,000 in 1998 alone!).

The Museum is a valuable historical, cultural and educational institution. It is the largest site in Nova Scotia that collects and interprets various elements of Nova Scotia's marine history. Visitors are introduced to the age of steamships, local small craft, the Royal Canadian and Merchant Navies, World War II convoys and The Battle of the Atlantic, the Halifax Explosion of 1917, and Nova Scotia's role in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster. On June 28, 2005, the Museum added the small, brown leather shoes once worn by the only infant victim of the Titanic sinking whose body was recovered to this exhibit. The Museum's newest permanent exhibit, Shipwreck Treasures of Nova Scotia with ~450 artifacts including nearly 200 coins, opened in June of 2001. On June 28, 2005, the Museum added the small, brown leather shoes once worn by the only infant victim of the Titanic sinking whose body was recovered to it's permanent exhibit on the disaster. The 56 metre hydrographic survey vessel, CSS Acadia, which surveyed the Canadian coast for 56 years, is permanently berthed at the Museum wharf and is open to the public during the summer.

In addition to the numerous exhibits and artifacts, the seasonal public programme offers visitors opportunities to discover the diversity of Atlantic Canada's maritime heritage.

About the Collections

The collection includes artifacts, images, charts and plans relating to the marine history of Nova Scotia. The Royal and the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian merchant marine, Nova Scotia small craft and local shipwrecks are particular strengths of the collection, much of which represents the period 1850 to the present.
The collection includes everything from sextants, binnacles and figureheads to small crat, anchors, armaments and marine portraits, and our largest artifact, the 1913 hydrographic survey vessel, CSS Acadia.

Approximate number of objects in the collections: ~50,000

Archives

Cartographic Materials • Prints and Drawings • Films and Videos • Photographs • Textual Records
Other: Photographs

Decorative Arts

Costumes • Furniture or Furnishings

Fine Arts

ship portraits and prints

Media:
Mixed Media, Multimedia or Installations • Painting • Photography • Prints and Drawings • Film and Video

Miscellaneous:
War Art

Other:
Marine portraits, ship portraits

Human History

Marine History and Technology
Other: Ship models, Shipbuilding, Watercraft

Services & Activities

Programs and tours (May 1 - Oct. 31)
Annual research grants
Museum library (by appointment only)
Research and enquiries (fees may apply)

Research Services

Annual research grants
Reference library (by appointment only)
Response to enquiries (fees may apply)
Response to photographic requests (fees apply)

Information Centre • Library • Object or Scientific specimen identification • Slide Library

Educational Programs

Age of Sail Program - organized through the Nova Scotia Museum
Halifax Explosion Program - organized through the Nova Scotia Museum
Halifax Navy Town - organized through the Nova Scotia Museum

Illustrated talks and lectures Sept. - May (various dates and times)

Classes or Workshops • Demonstrations • Family Programs • Lectures • School Programs : Age 5-11 (k-6) : Age 12-17 (7-13)(Quebec: Secondary 1-CEGEP)
Other: Sleepover program for school groups called NIGHT WATCH.

Visitor Services

Programs and tours (May - Oct.)
Workshops and demonstrations (various dates and times)

Films and Videos • Guided Tours : English • Accessible by Public Transportation • Information Centre or Desk • Meeting Room Rental • Gift shop • Special Needs Facilities : Signs : Washrooms : Wheelchairs available : Wheelchair access • Washrooms • Children's Activities or Services : Playground : Nursing area or Change Table

Volunteer Services

Volunteer Services Available • Volunteer Training Offered

Number of Volunteers: 15 - 30

Activities: School programs, ship model conservation, cataloguing of artifacts, assistance with historic ship interpretation, wood carving demonstrations, assistance with historic ship restoration

Food Services

Picnic Area • Reception Facilities

Internet Services

General Information • Collections • Events • Education • School Visits or Programs • Directions or Map • Online Giftshop or Bookstore

Local Tourism Links

Local Attractions • Hotels • Restaurants • Shopping • Other Services

Publications and Products

There are several products available through the Information Desk and the Marine Heritage Store which feature the museum name and logo (souvenirs, books, brochures, gifts).
The Nova Scotia Museum (NSM) web site (http://museum.gov.ns.ca) features a page on books published by the NSM.

Books • Brochures • Postcards • T-Shirts or Sweatshirts or Caps

Featured Images

Map

Visit the Website

Location

Address:	1675 Lower Water Street Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1S3 See Map
Telephone:	902-424-7490
Fax:	902-424-0612