November 8 is Viola Desmond Day in Nova Scotia. On this day in 1946, Viola Desmond, an African Nova Scotian entrepreneur and mentor, was arrested for daring to violate racial segregation in a New Glasgow theatre, marking a watershed moment for civil rights in Canada.

By Sean R. Haughian, Curator of Botany at the Nova Scotia Museum

After a wonderful summer season, some of our family of 28 Museums will be closing for the season.  This month is your last chance to explore some of our sites until next year, closing dates are listed below.

Grace Elliott, Ocean Interpretation Intern, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

In Canada the first day of August is designated Emancipation Day, recognizing the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1834. In Nova Scotia, Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs Tony Ince introduced legislation marking Emancipation Day in April 2021.

Brenna Frasier, Curator of Zoology, Nova Scotia Museum

By Roger Marsters, Curator of History

The recent SailGP races in Halifax Harbour offered new ways to see a familiar place. In addition to folks crowding chilly wharves and hillsides in person, many more followed the races online. More than a few, including me, watched local webcams for backstage action at SailGP’s Dartmouth Cove marshalling yard.

Lawrence House Museum in Maitland, Hants County, will be closed for the 2024 season to explore options for operating the site in the future.

During the closure, announced today, June 11, Department staff will engage the community and develop future operational plans.

A treasured Hants County museum has a new name that better reflects its history and role in the community.

Clifton Museum Park, formerly Haliburton House Museum, returns the original name to the property and helps address the complex legacy of its former owner. Located in Windsor, Clifton Museum Park is part of the Nova Scotia Museum.

By Dr. Sean R. Haughian, Curator of Botany

In the bustling concrete jungles of our cities, green spaces are like precious oases, offering a breath of fresh air amid the urban sprawl. But did you know that there's a humble yet mighty hero often overlooked in these green endeavors? Mosses – those tiny, often unnoticed plants – hold incredible potential for transforming our cities into greener, more sustainable environments.

Mrs. Sylvia Weagle was an enthusiastic teacher, toy maker, and rock collector. She loved teaching kids and inspiring them with her toy creations. Sylvia also wrote some (unpublished) notes about rocks from Georges Bank, which she thought were dinosaur eggs.

Heritage Day, 2024

Heritage Day 2024 celebrated the life and legacy of Mr. William Hall, V.C., the African-descended Nova Scotian farmer and naval hero. What do we celebrate when we celebrate William Hall, his life, and his achievements? For more than a hundred years, Black Nova Scotians have celebrated Hall as a good neighbour and dutiful family member, as a courageous Black man who overcame entrenched race-based prejudices to live as freely and generously as he could.

Heritage Day - William Hall

Monday, February 19, 2024

Heritage Day is an annual reminder of our storied past and an opportunity to honour the remarkable people, places and events that have contributed to this province’s unique heritage.

Hello,
Here's what's happening across the Nova Scotia Museum.

Many types of dinosaurs did not chew their food - but used their sharp teeth to cut large pieces of food, which they swallowed without chewing. These dinosaurs used powerful stomach muscles and stones (gastroliths) to grind up their food. We can see many types of birds and other animals still doing this today.

What Have I Found?

Have you ever been enjoying the outdoors, stumbled upon something interesting, and wondered if you’d found something special? If you think you have found something with heritage value, staff at the Nova Scotia Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism, & Heritage (CCTH) would like to hear from you.

The Nova Scotia Museum collections include snow crystals from 1940!

These intricate models of snow crystals were created by Edwin Reiber for the Cranbrook Institute of Science (Michigan). The models were the "first accurate models of snow crystals". 

Get ready for a spooktacular time at our museums' Halloween events. A ghoulish good time awaits you!