Things to do in Halifax
Halifax is a modern city with towering skyscrapers, modern shopping malls and plenty of fashionable restaurants and pubs, but there is also another fascinating side to this city; steep hillsides near the harbour leading to narrow streets scattered with quaint bars and restaurants, the Art Gallery, Maritime Museum and many other appealing places to visit.
The Clock Tower
The Clock Tower, built in 1803, is located on St George's street. The three-storey dainty balustrade octagon tower is built on top of a one-storey white clapboard building that does not seem to fit in with the beauty of the tower, making the whole structure seem rather incongruous. Prince Edward arranged for the turret clock to be built to improve the image of the soldiers' garrisons. Today, the Old Town Clock, or Citadel Clock as it is affectionately called, is one of the most famous landmarks in Halifax.
The Citadel
To deter the threat of potential invaders, the Citadel was strategically built on top of a hill. The Citadel is famed for its history and its impressive star-shaped architecture including thick solid walls. Built as a British naval station, the Citadel took 28 years to complete and played an important part in protecting the area. Today, it is protected as a National Historic site. It is quite interesting to walk around the fort and at noon, everyday, a canon is fired. There is an army museum on the second floor of the barracks, which has an interesting display of photographs and items, while there is a coffee and gift shop in the fort area.
Maritime Museum
Many artefacts from the Titanic are housed at the museum, as Halifax played an important part in the aftermath of the tragedy. The museum also houses an exhibition that covers all aspects of Nova Scotia seafaring, from colonial days until the present day. The displays include a collection of small boats and models of larger ones; a reconstruction of a 19th century store, stocked with items that a ship would require on a long journey, from tar to barrels of biscuits; and many other interesting exhibits.
Titanic Cemeteries
Halifax played a large part in the rescue and recovery process that began after the sinking of the Titanic on her maiden voyage. Altogether, 328 bodies were recovered and 209 were taken back to Halifax. The remainder were buried at sea.
Some of the bodies were returned to families, but 150 Titanic victims were laid to rest in Halifax. Their tombstones can be visited at the Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery, the Baron de Hirsch Jewish Cemetery and the Fairview Lawn Cemetery. Up until today, 44 of the bodies buried remain unidentified.
St Paul's Church is the oldest building in Halifax, dating back to the mid 1700s. It is also the first Protestant church in Canada, and many tourists visit this site to enjoy its simple architecture and learn about its history. The church was used as a hospital after the 1917 Halifax explosion, when hundreds of bodies were placed in rows around its walls.
