Sights in Halifax

As one of the oldest cities on the continent, Halifax has a variety of historic sights. As capital, it is also home to the major art galleries and museums of the province.

Anna Leonowens Gallery: 5163 Duke Street. Granville Mall Square, in the historic properties district near the harbour. Works by students, faculty and visitors of the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design.

Army Museum: Cavalier Building, Citadel Hill. Most Haligonians don't even know it exists. Uniforms and weapons from the 1700s to the 1970s, especially British and Canadian. Closed in winter.

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia: 1723 Hollis Street. Modern gallery facilities in a renovated heritage building. Travelling exhibits, folk art, native art, and a permanent collection of Nova Scotian, Canadian and international pieces.

Black Cultural Centre: 1149 Main St (Rte 7) at Cherrybrook Rd. 800-465-0767. The history and culture of black Nova Scotians, including the Underground Railroad, Black Loyalists, and modern achievements.

Burke-Gaffney Observatory: Robie Street. Observatory with several telescopes, open to the public year-round on 1st and 3rd Saturdays, when the weather is clear.

Cathedral Church of All Saints: 5732 College Street. Historic church known for its stained glass windows.

Chebucto Head Lighthouse: Duncan's Cove. Sure, there's a lighthouse, but also an amazing poanoramic view of the harbour mouth. The perilous cliffs below the lighthouse beg to be climbed but beware the crashing waves. Berry picking. Whale/ship/storm watching.   

Cole Harbour Heritage Farm Museum: 471 Poplar Dr, Cole Harbour. 200-year old farmhouse with gardens, livestock, picnic tables, washrooms, adjacent walking trail, pond and marsh, and free parking and admission.

Dalhousie Art Gallery: 6101 University Ave. In the Dalhousie Arts Centre.

Discovery Centre: 1593 Barrington St. Hands-on science centre for kids (and adults) with gift shop.

Evergreen House: 26 Newcastle Street, Dartmouth. Free admissions (donations encouraged). Summer only. Restored Victorian home built in 1867 for Judge Alexander James, and former home of author and folklorist Dr Helen Creighton. Contains the Regional Museum of Cultural History's collection of Victorian furniture.

Fort McNab: On McNabs Island. Ruins of a fort that served (with York Redoubt) as part of harbour defence from 1888 to WWII. Summers only. Accessible by private ferry from Cable Wharf in downtown Halifax.

Grand Parade: The area in front of Halifax City Hall where the Cenotaph (war monument) stands. Most political rallies start here. The City's Christmas tree is put up here. Great place to get an over-priced hot dog at 3 a.m.

Halifax Citadel - Citadel Hill: A restored 19th century British fort in the heart of Halifax. Best view of the city, guided tours, a highland soldier guards the entrance, bagpipers and drummers, museums, tunnels, prison cells, moat, rifle firings, cannon firings, parades, hourly changing of the guard ceremony, sandwich bar, gift shop.  May7 - October 31, Adult $9

Halifax Public Gardens: Spring Garden Road at South Park Street. Formal Victorian public garden in the heart of Halifax. Exotic flowers, plants and trees, swans, fountains, statues, geese, antique bandstand, duck pond, picnic grounds, washrooms. A popular oasis for shoppers and visitors since 1867. Closed in winter. Admission FREE

Historic Properties: 1869 Upper Water Street. A shopping/dining complex built into Canada's oldest surviving group of waterfront warehouses. Gift shops, bars, food court with harbourside boardwalk.Victorian-Italianate facades.

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic: 1675 Lower Water Street. Days of Sail, Titanic, Halifax Explosion. View an original Titanic deck chair.

Museum of Natural History: 1747 Summer Street.

Neptune Theatre: 1593 Argyle Street. Largest theatre in the province.

Nova Scotia Centre for Craft & Design: 1683 Barrington Street.

Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame: 1645 Granville Street.

Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel: South Park and South streets. Built 31 August 1843, in one day. French 17th century stained-glass windows.

Pier 21 National Historic Site: 1055 Marginal Road. Last remaining immigration shed in Canada (but not in use). Often called Canada's Ellis Island.

Point Pleasant Park: Point Pleasant Dr. Huge harbourside park with forests, footpaths, ruined forts, (plus a restored Prince of Wales Martello Tower), wildlife, monuments, bandstand, pond, picnic areas.

Province House: 1726 Hollis Street. Canada’s oldest provincial legislative assembly, and the original home of Britain’s first overseas self-government. Georgian architecture.

Quaker Whaler's House: 57-59 Ochterloney Drive, Dartmouth. Summers only, free admission, donations welcome, guides in period costume. Restored 18th century house associated with the Nantucket whalers (who were in Dartmouth from 1785 to 1792).

Saint George's Round Church : 2222 Brunswick Street. First Lutheran Church in Canada, built 1756. Now Anglican. Damaged by fire in 1994, but has been restored.

Shearwater Aviation Museum: 12 Wing, Eastern Passage.

Shubenacadie Canal: 54 Locks Road , Dartmouth. Scenic trails along the ancient tree-shaded canal, which feeds into Halifax Harbour. Fairbanks Interpretive Centre explains the 19th century engineering of huge wooden locks. Paddle boat rentals. Wildlife. Washrooms. Snack bar. Camping. Unsupervised beach. 

Smiley Face Museum: Most locals don't know about this. 22 Wentworth Street, Dartmouth. Admission by donation. Open Saturdays only. Phone (902) 463-6287.

St. Mary's Basilica: 1508 Barrington Street. National Historic site.

The Old Burying Ground & Welsford-Parker Monument: Barrington Street. First burial ground in Halifax. 

World Peace Pavilion: Dartmouth Waterfront. Opened for the G7 Summit in 1995. Countries contributed rocks and bricks from cherished historical sites or representing their achievements. Includes pieces of the Berlin Wall and the Great Wall of China.