Half-Day Historical Tour of Halifax
Half-Day Historical Tour of Halifax
This Tour is about Halifax's Remarkable History including all the Titanic and Halifax Explosion Sites and the Stories and Miracles of these Two Historic Tragedies. See ALL that Historic Halifax, Dartmouth and Fisherman's Cove has to offer in a Clean, Safe and Comfortable Tour Vehicle a Ford Transit 350 XLT Medium Roof 15 Passenger Van with 4 Guests Minimum to 10 Guests Maximum. Vehicle is equipped with a microphone to the speaker system and a large tablet to view Guests Videos and Photos to augment your Tour experience so you have a Memorable, Unique Tour of Historic Halifax, Dartmouth and Fisherman's Cove.
Book This ExperienceA glimpse of the journey
Your Itinerary
A curated journey through the experience
Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
Your Guide will tell you all about Pier 21 the Gateway to Canada
Harbourside Market
The Market has operated in several locations across the city since its inception in 1750, but moved to the Halifax Seaport in 2010 where it is now known as the Halifax Seaport Farmers’ Market – the longest continuously running Market in North America and proudly hosting over 250 vendors!
The Emigrant Statue
This is a masterpiece done by Armando Barbon who emigrated to Canada from Italy in 1951 and is a gift to Canada...It depicts Armando stepping on to a ship and his Beautiful wife Yole with the Kids in the Family Tree...His wife and two small children followed 5 months later...Inscription reads : The pain of separation he overcame, with faith and hope his heart aflame...
Samuel Cunard Statue
Sir Samuel Cunard, was a British-Canadian shipping magnate, born in Halifax, a as the locals say a Haligonian, who founded the Cunard Line. He was the son of a master carpenter and timber merchant who had fled the American Revolution and settled in Halifax.
Halifax Waterfront Boardwalk
It is said to be the longest Downtown Boardwalk in the World along side of the Worlds Second Largest Natural Harbour
Georges Island National Historic Site
Thanks to its complex of subterranean passages and tunnels, this mysterious island has been the subject of local folklore for generations.
Alexander Keith's Brewery
One of the oldest working breweries in North America, the brewery is dedicated to crafting small batch brews, inspired by local Nova Scotian culture and Keith’s heritage.
HMCS Sackville - Canada's Naval Memorial
HMCS Sackville is the only one of 269 Allied corvettes from the Second World War that remains and continues to serve as Canada’s Naval Memorial..HMCS Sackville was one of 123 corvettes built in Canada and is a National Historic Site.
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
From the stories of the World War convoys, the Days of Sail to the Age of Steam plus Titanic and Halifax Explosion exhibits.
Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
You will hear about Maud Lewis a Famous Nova Scotia Folk Artist
Historic Properties
A designated National Historic Site in the heart of downtown Halifax, Historic Properties is the first restoration project of its kind in Canada, featuring three city blocks of Canada’s oldest surviving group of waterfront warehouses and some of North America’s finest Victorian-Italianate façades dating back to the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Saint George's Round Church
You will hear about the sad history of this iconic Round Church...Built in 1800 to accommodate the growing population of the Little Dutch Church, Saint George's is a cylindrical, wooden church designed in the Palladian style thanks to the architectural taste of Edward, Duke of Kent.
St. Paul's Church
Founded in 1749, this was the first Anglican cathedral built outside of England and is the oldest building in Halifax. The “Ghost Window” and piece of wood embedded in an interior wall are relics of the 1917 Halifax Explosion.
Halifax City Hall
Halifax City Hall is the home of municipal government in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Designed by architect Edward Elliot and constructed for the City of Halifax between 1887 and 1890, it is one of the oldest and largest public buildings in Nova Scotia. The property was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1997
Province House
Opened in 1819, Province House is Canada’s oldest legislative building and is home to Canada’s first elected House of Assembly. As both a National and a Provincial Historic Site, the building has two distinct styles of architecture: Regency and Victorian. Visitors are welcome to explore history, art, and architecture during their visits.
Government House
Government House is the oldest official residence in Canada and has been the working residence of the Sovereign's representative in Nova Scotia for more than 200 years. This beautiful Georgian home and National Historic Site contains an impressive collection of art and antiques that reflect the province's history and heritage and is the home of the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
Old Burying Ground
The Old Burying Ground National Historic Site of Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia, contains more than 1,200 head and foot stones, constituting a unique Canadian concentration of gravestone art from the 18th and early 19th centuries. This early graveyard is a 0.91 hectare treed rectangle separated on all sides from its urban environment by a stone wall bearing a decorative iron fence. On its south end, a substantial monument to the Crimean War faces Barrington Street. The burying ground now serves as a significant urban green space.
St. Mary's Basilica
Saint Mary's Cathedral Basilica is a National Historic Site boasting Gothic Revival architecture and design, located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. It is the cathedral church of the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth.
Halifax Court House
The Halifax Court House is a historic building in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. Its main section was completed in 1863, with the east wing, built in 1930, being the newest portion. The Italian renaissance style building was designed by William Thomas, a Toronto architect who built prominent structures across Canada, and built by George Lang. The building was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1969. It was also listed as a Provincially Registered Property under Nova Scotia's Heritage Property Act in 1983
Halifax Central Library
The design, said to resemble a stack of books, has garnered international attention and was featured by CNN as one of ten "eye-popping" new buildings of 2014.
Fort Massey Cemetery
Fort Massey Cemetery is a military cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia dating back to the 1750s, and is the resting place for British and Canadian soldiers, veterans and spouses. The cemetery is named after Major General Eyre Massey. The cemetery is maintained by Veteran's Affairs Canada.
Holy Cross Cemetery
Holy Cross Cemetery is a cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, owned and operated by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth. It was constructed in 1843 under the direction of Archbishop William Walsh, on land provided by local authorities. Holy Cross Cemetery replaced the first Catholic cemetery in Halifax, the St. Peter's Cemetery located next to St. Mary's Basilica on Spring Garden Road. Since 1843, some 25,000 persons have been buried at Holy Cross, many of Irish descent, including Canada's fourth Prime Minister, Sir John Sparrow Thompson.
Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel
In Holy Cross Cemetery is Our Lady of Sorrows Chapel. On August 31, 1843, over 1,800 people gathered to build this charming little chapel—and they did so in just one day! The French stained-glass windows date to the 16th and 17th centuries.
Cathedral Church of all Saints
The Cathedral Church of All Saints, also known as All Saints Cathedral, is a cathedral church of the Anglican Church of Canada in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is the cathedral for the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and also the site of the first Titanic Funeral for Mr. William Henry Harrison who was Bruce Ismay's private secretary
Camp Hill Cemetery
In 1844, Camp Hill replaced the city's first cemetery, the Old Burying Ground, which had been established almost 100 years earlier in 1749...Notable interments: Viola Desmond, Alexander Keith, Joseph Howe, and Halifax native and Titanic Survivor Miss Hilda Mary Slayter also John Taylor Wood, Civil War Confederate Naval Officer, grandson of President Zachary Taylor, nephew of Confederate President Jefferson Davis
10 minutesHalifax Public Gardens
As one of the finest surviving examples of a Victorian Garden in North America, the Halifax Public Gardens is located in the heart of Halifax. Located on 17-acres and enclosed by a wrought-iron fence with a magnificent set of ornamental gates, take a leisurely stroll through the gardens to view many floral displays that include exotic and semi-tropical ornamental species, trees, shrubs, statues, and fountains. Recognized as a National Historic Site in 1984, the Halifax Public Gardens are a much loved and popular destination for locals and visitors alike.
30 minutesHalifax Citadel National Historic Site
Where at Noon (Sharp) You WILL Experience the Firing of the "Noon Gun" a Halifax Tradition since 1856 plus the Changing of the Guards the 78th Highlanders"...Halifax Citadel continues to watch over the city’s downtown core, although now its role is as a reminder of Halifax’s past and not as a military fortification. The present Citadel, completed in 1856, is officially called Fort George, named after Britain’s King George II, and is actually the fourth in a series of forts to sit atop what is now known as Citadel Hill. Its distinctive star shape is typical of many 19th century forts built by the British military and gave the garrison sweeping arcs of fire. From its deep defensive ditch, soldiers pointed muskets from every angle of its stout walls and large cannons lined its ramparts. It’s easy to see why no enemy force ever dared to attack the Halifax Citadel.
15 minutesOld Town Clock
The idea of a clock for the British Army and Royal Navy garrison at Halifax is credited to Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, who arranged for a turret clock to be manufactured before his return to England in 1800. It is said that Prince Edward, then commander-in-chief of all military forces in British North America, wished to resolve the tardiness of the local garrison
15 minutesPoint Pleasant Park
Point Pleasant Park situated in the south end of the Halifax peninsula is a historic 75-hectare wooded park crisscrossed with 39 km of easy winding trails and wide paths, many wheelchair-accessible. Visitors can experience preserved ruins of early fortifications, coastal ecosystems, as well as cultural resources. Halifax rents the site from the British Government for 1 shilling (about 10 cents) a year, with a 999-year lease.
Dalhousie University
Dalhousie was founded in 1818 by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia George Ramsay, 9th Earl of Dalhousie desired a non-denominational college in Halifax. Financing largely came from customs duties collected by a previous Lieutenant Governor, John Coape Sherbrooke, during the War of 1812 occupation of Castine, Maine
Mont Blanc Anchor Site
See the 1140 lbs anchor shaft from SS Mont Blanc that flew 2.3 miles after the Halifax Explosion of 1917
5 minutesUniversity of King's College
The University of King's College, established in 1789, is in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is the oldest chartered university in Canada, and the first English-speaking university in the Commonwealth outside the United Kingdom
Sir Sandford Fleming Park (The Dingle)
The park was donated to Halifax in 1908 by Sir Sandford Fleming, creator of Standard Time Zones. The Dingle Tower was dedicated in 1912 to commemorate 150 years of representative government.
10 minutesMount Olivet Cemetery
The "Forgotten Titanic Cemetery of Mount Olivet". This stop you will view markers for 19 Roman Catholic Titanic Victims and hear the sad story of Margaret Rice and others interred here including the miracle child of the Halifax Explosion "Ashpan Annie"..Anne M. Welsh (née Liggins) and also the Hero of the Halifax Explosion Vincent Coleman
20 minutesFairview Lawn Cemetery
This stop you will see where 121 Titanic victims are interred and hear the sad stories of J Dawson and Sidney Leslie Goodwin and many more plus the Halifax Explosion unknown were 157 Haligonian's are interred
20 minutesHalifax Explosion Memorial Bell Tower
The ten original bells hanging in the tower were donated to the United Memorial Church on nearby Kaye Street by Barbara Orr, who lost her entire family in the explosion. That church, dedicated in 1921, took the place of two other churches that had been destroyed by the blast. Explosion survivors formed most of its early congregation. Later, four extra bells were added.
20 minutesFort Needham Memorial Park
Hear about the Fort Needham and the Halifax Explosion Memorial Bells and other very unique aspects of this park.
20 minutesHydrostone Market
Following the Halifax Explosion, many of the wood-frame buildings collapsed on their coal stoves and furnaces and caught on fire, which was a concern when reconstruction was being planned. To minimize the danger of fire, Adams and Ross proposed the use of non-combustible hydrostone for the reconstruction of this area.Hydrostone was a concrete block that was finished with crushed rock (granite, in this case) to approximate the appearance of cut-stone construction. The concrete blocks and their faces were amalgamated through a hydraulic pressing process, patented by a Chicago firm. Manufacture of the blocks was done in a plant located in Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia and the finished stones were hauled across Halifax Harbour by barge.
Mont Blanc Cannon Site
When the munitions ship SS Mont Blanc exploded during the Halifax Explosion this cannon was thrown nearly 3 miles to Albro Lake in Dartmouth where it was recovered years later.
Fisherman's Cove
Fisherman’s Cove is a wonderfully quaint and colourful restored 200 year-old working fishing village with lot's of photo opportunities.
1 hourLake Banook
Lake Banook is a freshwater lake located in Dartmouth within the Halifax Regional Municipality in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is home to three sprint canoe and kayak clubs, two rowing clubs, and a dragon boat club. It also has a claim to be the birthplace of ice hockey.
Kings Wharf Place
We will stop at Kings Wharf for an amazing photo of Halifax Skyline
10 minutesIncluded
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Bottled water
- WiFi on board
Not Included
- Lunch
- Gratuity
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Guests driving to starting point Pier 22 can park for $10.00 CAD for All Day..Very Secure Parking
Good to Know
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Seating is the First Confirmed has the First Choice of Seats in Vehicle
- Tour is Four Guests Minimum to Ten Guests Maximum
- Most travelers can participate
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons
- Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required for travelers
- COVID-19 vaccination required for guides
- Nova Scotia lifted All Covid Mandates on March 21, 2022 (Subject to Change)...Personal Face coverings/Masks are encouraged but your choice. We will have supply Masks if you wish to wear one also Aloe Purell Hand sanitizer in every row of the Vehicle plus Lysol wipes & Kleenex
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This experience requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Tickets & Cancellation
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.