Recent Stories
How to Dodge 'Flu'
By the end of the summer 1918, Halifax and Dartmouth were still rebuilding and recovering from the deadly Halifax Explosion that claimed nearly 2,000 lives and devastated both communities. By all appearances, the First World War was slowly drawing to…
Seely Hall
Three generations of Seelys conducted business out of Port Medway and their story is one of great success and misfortune, very much in step with the nineteenth-century shipping and shipbuilding economy of Nova Scotia's South Shore. Seely Hall was…
The Lumber King of Nova Scotia
Edward Doran Davison, Sr. (1819-1894) was a prominent businessman, caring philanthropist, devoted family man, Methodist, self-taught mechanical engineer, and avid politician. In 1837, at the young age of 18, Davison acquired large tracts of forest…
Ranna Cossit
Built in 1787, Cossit House is one of the oldest surviving houses in Sydney. It was built by Anglican minister, Reverend Ranna Cossit, a loyalist from New Hampshire who settled in Sydney in 1786. When Cossit agreed to the post, the…
Starr Manufacturing Company
Starr Manufacturing was established in 1861 by Dartmouth businessman, John Starr. The steel manufacturing company was located on the west side of Prince Albert Road just north of Pleasant Street. Initially, the company produced nuts, bolts, and…
Halifax's Pentagon Building
The Pentagon Building in downtown Halifax was somewhat of a landmark in its day. Erected in 1860 at the foot of Buckingham Street where Granville, Hollis, and Upper Water converged, the odd-shaped building looked from one angle to be a miniature…
Featured Stories
Ranna Cossit
Built in 1787, Cossit House is one of the oldest surviving houses in Sydney. It was built by Anglican minister, Reverend Ranna Cossit, a loyalist from New Hampshire who settled in Sydney in 1786. When…
Melville Island
Melville Island is not, in fact, an island, but a small peninsula that juts into the Northwest Arm. Today it is the home of the Armdale Yacht Club, but its history - and that of the small peninsula to…
The Halifax Skating Rink
In 1862, the Halifax Skating Club was formed by a winter-hardy group of 'fancy skating' enthusiasts. They first took to the ice to perform the Lancers on Griffin's Pond in the Horticultural Society's…
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Historic Dalhousie Buildings
12 Locations ~ Curated by Historic Nova Scotia Team with research support from Dalhousie University ArchivesHistoric Nova Scotia
A project by Historic Nova Scotia projectHistoric Nova Scotia is a free app that allows you to explore Nova Scotia’s rich history. Developed by a number of cultural heritage organizations in Nova Scotia, Historic Nova Scotia is a mobile application that provides an interpretive view of many aspects of the region’s history. Each point on the interactive GPS-enabled map includes historical information about the site along with historic images and other digital resources from Nova Scotia’s cultural heritage organizations. Read more About Us