Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
#4 in Best Things To Do in Halifax
Details
- 4.5Value
- 4.0Facilities
- 4.5Atmosphere
It makes sense that Canada's oldest and most substantial maritime museum is located in Halifax: The city's history drips with stories from the sea. By displaying artifacts and providing interactive exhibits, this specialty museum recounts the city's days as a pirate haven, a commercial shipping hub and a military player in World Wars I and II. But the exhibit detailing Halifax's response to the 1912 sinking of the Titanic is, for many, the highlight of the museum. The display includes artifacts from the "Unsinkable Ship" and recounts local efforts to recover lost passengers and any remaining parts of the ship. In fact, it was at this museum that director James Cameron saw the carved panel that inspired Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet's raft in the 1997 film, Titanic. (You can also find many Titanic victims buried in Halifax's cemeteries.)
While examining the Titanic artifacts is the biggest draw, previous visitors say that you should make time for the other displays. "We went in primarily to see the Titanic artifacts and ended up looking at so much more," says one TripAdvisor user. "There were an amazing variety of very complete exhibits."
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic overlooks the harbor in downtown Halifax. It welcomes visitors Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (with extended evening hours on Tuesdays) and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Admission ranges from roughly $5 to $9 CAD (about $5 to $9 USD) for adults, depending on the season. You can learn more about the museum by checking out its website.
More Best Things To Do in Halifax


#1 Historic Properties Wharf
To sample historic Halifax, spend a few hours perusing the Historic Properties. Overlooking the harbor from its city-center locale, this neighborhood retains much of its original fin-de-siècle architecture. The historic buildings that once acted as shipping warehouses and privateers' headquarters now house the lively Harbourside Market, numerous boutiques, souvenir shops and several rowdy brewpubs.
The majority of Halifax visitors and residents say that this quaint neighborhood is a must-see for first-time tourists. As one Yelp.com user (a Halifax resident) says: "It's a total tourist draw, and one of the places that is absolutely required visiting … whether you're 'from here' or 'from away.'"
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