Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Halifax (must see)

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is Canada’s oldest and largest maritime museum. A member of the Nova Scotia Museum system, it boasts an extensive collection of more than 30,000 artifacts, including 70 small craft and the historic steamship CSS Acadia. The museum also houses 30,000 photographs, a vast selection of charts, and rare books, making it an important institution for maritime history enthusiasts.

Originally founded in 1948 as the Maritime Museum of Canada, it was first based at HMC Dockyard in Halifax Harbor. During the museum’s early years, naval officers served as volunteer chairs until 1959, when Niels Jannasch was appointed its founding director, a role he held until 1985. Over the decades, the museum moved several times before settling into its current waterfront facility in 1981 as part of a redevelopment initiative. The CSS Acadia was acquired in 1982, further enriching the museum’s collection.

Situated on the Halifax Waterfront, the museum enjoys a prime location with piers, boatsheds, and direct views of Halifax Harbor, including Georges Island and Dartmouth. Among its facilities is the restored Robertson Store ship chandler building, dating from the 1880s, alongside the modern exhibition spaces of the Devonian Wing. During the summer months, HMCS Sackville, a World War II Flower-class corvette, is docked adjacent to the museum, although it is administered separately.

The museum showcases maritime history through exhibits on sailing, steamships, small craft, the Canadian Navy, the Halifax Explosion, and shipwrecks. A standout is the Titanic exhibit, highlighting Nova Scotia’s role in recovering victims. It features the world’s largest collection of wooden artifacts from Titanic, including a rare deck chair and a pair of children’s shoes associated with Sidney Leslie Goodwin, once known as the “unknown child.”

The museum also houses the Niels Jannasch Library, Canada’s largest collection of ship portraits, and numerous ship models, including originals from Theodore Tugboat. An important part of Halifax’s cultural landscape, it brings maritime history to life through its exhibitions, collections, and restoration projects.