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Halifax, Nova Scotia, Titanic

June 2, 2010 by Judy 8 Comments

Halifax sailor statue

The first time we visited Halifax, Nova Scotia, we were on our honeymoon, many moons ago. Lucky for us, a travel media conference took us back there.
…….

Halifax, Nova Scotia is one of Canada’s historic ports of call, founded in 1749. In more recent times she has become a cruise-lover’s destination. That’s why I chose this week to post our Halifax trip even though we visited there in winter.

Lighthouse and harbour pilot boat in Halifax

Lighthouse and harbour pilot boat in Halifax
…….

Pier 21 museum, Halifax

Welcome To Canada – Pier 21 museum, Halifax
…….

Pier 21, Canada’s immigration museum did not disappoint. “1.5 million immigrants, war brides, displaced people, evacuee children and Canadian military personnel passed through Pier 21 between 1928 and 1971.” What made our visit special was being with conference participants who immigrated to Canada with their families through this pier. I sat at lunch with a fellow from Germany who told us his story.

Deck chair from the Titanic

Deck chair salvaged from the Titanic on display at The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax
…….

tombstones of Titanic victimsThe 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic was April 14, 2012. It created renewed interest in Halifax’s connection to the sinking. Halifax is where the largest number of Titanic victims are buried and where the Marine Museum of the Atlantic has many Titanic artifacts. The Titanic is also connected to St. John’s, Newfoundland, the oldest city in North America. When the ship sank it was 375 miles off of the Newfoundland coast. Here are some fascinating recordings and personal stories. And here is a short piece about icebergs around Newfoundland.

tombstone of unknown child

Even today, tributes are left at the base of this stone erected to the memory of an unknown child whose remains were recovered from the wreckage of the Titanic, April 15th, 1912.
…….

We visited Halifax’s Fairview Cemetery where more than one hundred of the Titanic victims’ graves are laid in a curved line, like the bow of a boat. At the base of the grave of the unknown child there were many stuffed animals and flowers, which one might expect, but it was the flowers and the handwritten love letters covering the grave of J. Dawson that caught me by surprise. They were a sure sign that Leonardo Di Caprio’s role as Jack Dawson in Titanic the movie has been taken to heart. According to a 2001 Discovery Channel production, the real J. Dawson buried here is Joseph Dawson, a 23 year old coal trimmer who was from Dublin Ireland. Other Titanic victims’ graves are found in Halifax’s Mount Olivet and Baron de Hirsch Cemeteries.

I loved the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and ended up buying a magnificent Nova Scotia winter sketch in the gallery’s gift shop painted by Nova Scotia artist, Mark Brennan.

Alexander Keith’s brewery foyer

Foyer of Alexander Keith’s Nova Scotia Brewery – the oldest working brewery in North America
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the little Shiraz restaurant in Halifax

A little Shiraz restaurant in Halifax
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Local brewer,  Alexander Keith serves excellent east coast beer. We had a special beer tasting and dinner at this downtown Halifax brewery. Expect good seafood in Halifax. We had plenty of it while we were there. Another  delightful and unexpected find was Shiraz. This Persian restaurant may be tiny, but its flavours were anything but. I also enjoyed poking around in all the little shops on Halifax sidestreets. At Encore, one of the second hand stores, I got a great deal on a Jones reversible raincoat (new).

people having coffee on a wharf in Halifax

People having coffee on a wharf in Halifax
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Carnival, Celebrity, Crystal, Cunard and others have cruises up the eastern seaboard that include Halifax as a port of call.

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Filed Under: Canada, Canadian Places Tagged With: 100th Anniversary of the Titanic maritime disasters, Alexander Keith, Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, cruise companies, cruise lines, eastern seaboard, Encore Second Hand, Fairview Cemetery, Fodor's Halifax port of call, Halifax, J. Dawson, Jack Dawson, James Cameron, Leonardo Di Caprio, Mark Brennan, Museum of the Atlantic, Nova Scotia, ports of call, Shiraz Persian food, Titanic

Comments

  1. Authentic Seacoast Resorts says

    June 3, 2010 at 11:42 am

    Thanks for sharing Nova Scotia’s capital city with your readers. We hope you’ll be able to come back for a longer visit to discover more road stories from our beautiful province.

    Reply
  2. Raquel Segura says

    September 23, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    Who knew there was a real J. Dawson on the Titanic…. Great read and thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Lorraine Snyder - Historica Dominion Institute says

    April 3, 2012 at 1:22 am

    Dear photographers,

    We would like to feature some of your images in The Canadian Encyclopedia. Please contact me.

    Best,
    Lorraine Snyder

    Reply
    • Boomergirl says

      April 9, 2012 at 5:17 pm

      Lorraine,
      We’ve sent you an email. Thanks for your interest!

      Reply
  4. Edwin R Morris says

    April 5, 2012 at 9:48 pm

    I was born in Halifax in 1943, i have been collecting Titanic
    things for many years now, like pictures, books, i have a news
    paper of the 50 year anniversary in the Halifax Harald and White
    Star line things, also a lot of movies, the last movie of the Titanic lots of movie pictures,also Titanic bell.As a kid i lived
    across the street from the graveyard where some of the Titanic
    people were put to rest.There is a lot more,and i have been interested in the Titanic all my life.

    Reply
    • Boomergirl says

      April 9, 2012 at 5:16 pm

      Edwin,
      Delighted to find your comment on Roadstories! I am wondering if you will be at the Titanic commemorative events in Halifax this week. Would love to hear from you again.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Titanic anniversary in Canada says:
    October 13, 2012 at 1:49 pm

    […] the closest point of land to the Titanic, played an important role in the Titanic story. Halifax, Nova Scotia, a historic port on Canada’s east coast is where many Titanic victims were laid to rest. In […]

    Reply
  2. Titanic anniversary in Canada - Canadian Roadstories says:
    June 21, 2017 at 12:28 pm

    […] piece of rock called Cape Race, Newfoundland, the closest point of land to the Titanic, as well as Halifax, Nova Scotia, a historic port on Canada’s east coast where many Titanic victims were laid to rest, both […]

    Reply

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