Each year, September 30 marks the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The day honours the children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools, as well as their families and communities. Public commemoration of the tragic and painful history and ongoing impacts of residential schools is a vital component of the reconciliation process.

Image:  Dr. Ruth Holmes Whitehead, Order of Nova Scotia Investiture Ceremony, 2015. Photo Credit- Communications Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotia Museum is sad to announce the passing of former Curator, Dr. Ruth Whitehead. Dr. Whitehead passed away in Halifax on August 29^th, 2023.

Delicate fossils found in museum are cleaned, repaired, and mounted in archival supports when the fossils are put on display or used for research. This #FossilFriday we share an update on the museum conservation of the Gyracanthus magnificus specimen. Above is our Geology Intern, Robbie, using a wooden mallet, chisel, and diamond whetstone to chip away the very old plaster that the fossil fish spine was embedded within.

Imagine finding a giant fossil

Even the sound of the name, Gyracanthus magnificus [ Jyra’-can-thus  mag-nifi-cus ], evokes excitement, and magnificus this fossil sure is! 

The 325 million year old fossil was discovered in the limestone rocks near Baddeck, Nova Scotia in 1866. Gyracanthus magnificus was first mentioned in the scientific literature in Acadian Geology (Dawson 1868).

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.

Following Premier Huston's recent declaration of a provincewide state of emergency in Nova Scotia, all museums located in these following areas will be closed today, Sunday July 23, 2023: HRM, East Hants, West Hants, Lunenburg County, and Queen’s County,

Historic Collections

While doing research on Rev. Dr. David Honeyman, the first Curator of the Nova Scotia Museum (1868-1889), we found these specimens – Rev. David Honeyman’s first discovered fossils from Nova Scotia.

Our summer season started on June 1. While some of our family of 28 sites reopened their doors, it's important to note that a few of our locations will remain closed temporarily due to the ongoing forest fires across the province. The safety and well-being of our visitors, staff, and the first responders are our top priorities, and we appreciate your understanding in this matter

Robbie Hussey, our new Co-Op student from Cape Breton University has been applying new numbered labels on various fish fossils and coprolites that were found in Lingan by Dr. Erwin Zodrow in 1984.

Here are links to the competitions currently advertised on jobs.novascotia.ca. The application deadline is April 4.

Heritage Interpreters - Sutherland Steam & Balmoral Grist Mills 

https://jobs.novascotia.ca/job/DENMARK-Heritage-Interpreter-%28Clerk-2%29-NS-B0K-1V0/568839917/

Museum of Natural History

Halifax, Nova Scotia
naturalhistory.novascotia.ca
Daily 9 am to 6 pm

After a wonderful summer season, some of our family of 28 Museums have closed for season.

Nova Scotia will recognize Monday, September 19, 2022, as a provincial holiday in honour of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral service.

In recognition of September 19 as a day to honour and pay tribute to the life and legacy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Museum of Natural History, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and Museum of Industry will delay opening until 11am.

What are the Joggins Fossil Cliffs?

The Joggins Fossil Cliffs stretch over 15km of beach and encapsulate approximately 15 million years of Earth history. Layers of sediment were deposited one after another from a series of flooding events, which formed the cliffs that we admire today.

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.

Cameron Frail, Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic

Cameron Frail, Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic

The morning light is calmed by high, dappled clouds, and the sea around Adams and Knickle wharf is an opaque turquoise. There’s an elation among the people gathered today as the 70th annual Dory Rowing Competition gets underway.

March 14 to 18, 2022

We are happy to welcome you back to the Nova Scotia Museum.  We continue working to create a safe experience for you and our staff. Please note that public health guidelines will continue to be followed at our sites, wearing a non-medical mask is mandatory in our indoor spaces. Check out our “Know before you go” guides on each museum website to help prepare you for your visit.