Halifax's Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, on the Halifax harbor front was one place Terry wanted to visit. It was interesting to see the many displays that told of life at sea at different times.

There were ships and boats - models large and small...












... others life size...

...like this birch bark canoe.













There were samples of nautical equipment used at different periods of history...









 

... and food that would have been part of a seaman's regular diet, like "red lead and bacon" (bacon and tomatoes).













It was interesting to see how large and complex a lighthouse lens is.















This one (above) had been used for many years at a lighthouse at the Halifax harbor.













I was particularly intrigued by a display of carved wooden figureheads that had been on ships - or were being prepared for ships.










This unfinished one of a young girl shows how talented these wood carvers were - back in the day when ships were made of wood and wood carving was a common profession.













A live parrot lives in the museum. He is popular with the children. I wonder if all ships had parrots - or only pirate ships! The man in charge of the parrot (seen sweeping around his cage) said parrots live to be about 90.

Particularly moving was a documentary on the 1917 Halifax explosion, caused when two ships collided in the harbor. One was carrying war munitions. The ensuing explosion killed thousands and destroyed much of downtown.

The museum shows how ships and shipping shaped the city of Halifax throughout its history.