The Naval Museum of Halifax (formerly the Maritime Command Museum) is a

Canadian Forces The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF; , FAC) are the unified Military, military forces of Canada, including sea, land, and air commands referred to as the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Under the ''National Defenc ...

museum located at

CFB Halifax Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Halifax is Canada's east coast naval base and home port to the Royal Canadian Navy Atlantic fleet, known as Canadian Fleet Atlantic (CANFLTLANT), that forms part of the formation (military), formation Maritime Forces At ...

in the former official residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the

North America Station The North America and West Indies Station was a formation (military), formation or Command (military formation), command of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 174 ...

(1819–1905). Also known as Admiralty House, the residence is a

National Historic Site of Canada National Historic Sites of Canada () are places that have been designated by the federal Minister of the Environment on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC), as being of national historic significance. Parks C ...

located in

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and most populous municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the most populous municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of 2024, it is estimated that the population of the H ...

, Canada. The museum collects, preserves and displays the artifacts and history of the

Royal Canadian Navy The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN; , ''MRC'') is the Navy, naval force of Canada. The navy is one of three environmental commands within the Canadian Armed Forces. As of February 2024, the RCN operates 12 s, 12 s, 4 s, 4 s, 8 s, and several auxiliary ...

Admiralty House

Admiralty House served as the official summer residence of the

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in many navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force. Admiral is ranked above vice admiral and below admiral of ...

commanding the

North American Station The North America and West Indies Station was a formation or command of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 1745 to 1956, with main bases at the Imperial fortresses of Bermuda and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ...

of the British

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...

from 1819 to 1905. Construction of the large

Palladian Palladian architecture is a European architectural style derived from the work of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio (1508–1580). What is today recognised as Palladian architecture evolved from his concepts of symmetry, perspective and ...

Style Georgian house overlooking the Halifax Naval Yard began in 1814. Squadron commanders previously resided aboard a

flagship A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of navy, naval ships, characteristically a flag officer entitled by custom to fly a distinguishing flag. Used more loosely, it is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, typically ...

moored at the Naval Yard. The house was completed in 1819 as the summer residence of the Commander-in-Chief of the

, with the squadron shifting its main base during the winter months from Halifax to the Royal Naval Dockyard in

Bermuda Bermuda is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. The closest land outside the territory is in the American state of North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. Bermuda is an ...

(where a separate Admiralty House was maintained from 1795 to 1956). The first to live in the residence was Admiral David Milne. As the residence of one of the most important officials in Halifax, Admiralty House hosted many social and ceremonial events in the 19th century. One of the largest was a ball in 1848 for 600 guests hosted by Admiral Thomas Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald, famous as the inspiration for the fictional characters

Horatio Hornblower Horatio Hornblower is a fictional officer in the British Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, the protagonist of a series of novels and stories by C. S. Forester. He later became the subject of films and radio and television programmes, and ...

C. S. Forester Cecil Louis Troughton Smith (27 August 1899 – 2 April 1966), known by his pen name Cecil Scott "C. S." Forester, was an English novelist known for writing tales of naval warfare, such as the 12-book Horatio Hornblower series depicting a Royal ...

and

Jack Aubrey John "Jack" Aubrey , is a fictional character in the Aubrey–Maturin series of novels by Patrick O'Brian. The series of novels portrays his rise from lieutenant to rear admiral in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. The twenty (and o ...

Patrick O'Brian Patrick O'Brian (12 December 1914 – 2 January 2000), born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series. These sea novels are set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and ...

. Another famous resident of the house was Admiral

Francis Austen Admiral of the Fleet Sir Francis William Austen, (23 April 1774 – 10 August 1865) was a Royal Navy officer and an elder brother of the novelist Jane Austen. As commanding officer of the sloop HMS ''Peterel'', he captured some 40 ships, was p ...

, brother of the famous novelist

Jane Austen Jane Austen ( ; 16 December 1775 – 18 July 1817) was an English novelist known primarily for #List of works, her six novels, which implicitly interpret, critique, and comment on the English landed gentry at the end of the 18th century ...

. In all, 36 admirals lived in the house, the last being Sir

Day Hort Bosanquet Admiral Sir Day Hort Bosanquet, (22 March 1843 – 28 June 1923) was a British politician and senior officer in the Royal Navy, and brother of scientist and music theorist Robert Bosanquet and philosopher Bernard Bosanquet. He served as the Go ...

. Admiralty House was taken over by the Canadian government in 1905 as Canada took responsibility for the Halifax Dockyard from the British Royal Navy. In

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

it served as a naval hospital. The roof was blown in by the

Halifax Explosion On the morning of 6 December 1917, the French cargo ship collided with the Norwegian vessel in the harbour of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. ''Mont-Blanc'', laden with Explosive material, high explosives, caught fire and exploded, devastat ...

on December 6, 1917. Despite the damage, hospital staff, many of them injured themselves, treated many wounded in the house in the hours after the explosion. After repairs, the house was used as a clinic by the Massachusetts Halifax Relief Commission to assist survivors after the explosion. From 1925 to 1954 it became part of the

base HMCS ''Stadacona'', serving as a Wardroom Officer's Mess and later as office space. In 1961 it became the library for the

and provided classroom space.

Notable Admirals in Residence (1819–1905)

War of 1812

Two Admirals distinguished themselves during the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

: File:Frigate Winchester.jpg, Edward Colpoys's flagship, , re-established

New Ireland (Maine) New Ireland was a Crown colony of the Kingdom of Great Britain twice established in modern-day Maine after British forces captured the area during the American Revolutionary War and again during the War of 1812. The colony lasted four years durin ...

(1814); served at Halifax (1816–1821, 1830–1832) File:Rear-Admiral George Cockburn (1772-1853), by John James Halls.jpg,

Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet, (22 April 1772 – 19 August 1853) was a Royal Navy officer and politician. As a captain, he was present at the Battle of Cape St Vincent in February 1797 during the French Revolutionary ...

Burning of Washington The Burning of Washington, also known as the Capture of Washington, was a successful United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, British Amphibious warfare, amphibious attack conducted by Rear Admiral Sir George Cockburn, 10th Baronet, Georg ...

(1814); served at Halifax (1832–36) File:HMS Vernon (1832).png, Cockburn's flagship in Halifax File:HMS Vernon, Royal Naval Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, HMS ''Vernon'', Royal Navy Burial Ground

Siege of Sevastopol

Four of the Admirals fought in the renown

Siege of Sevastopol (1854–55) Siege of Sevastopol may refer to: * Siege of Sevastopol (1854–1855), during the Crimean War * Siege of Sevastopol (1941–1942), during the Second World War * ''Siege of Sevastopol'' (panorama), a 1904 painted panorama by Franz Roubaud See also ...

during the

Crimean War The Crimean War was fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the Ottoman Empire, the Second French Empire, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Kingdom of Sardinia (1720–1861), Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont fro ...

: File:Admiral of the Fleet Sir Houston Stewart.JPG,

Houston Stewart Admiral of the Fleet Sir Houston Stewart, (3 August 1791 – 10 December 1875) was a Royal Navy officer and briefly a Liberal Party Member of Parliament. After serving as a junior officer in the Napoleonic Wars, Stewart became commanding office ...

, served at Halifax (1856–60) File:Sir Edward Augustus Inglefield by Stephen Pearce.jpg,

Edward Augustus Inglefield Sir Edward Augustus Inglefield (27 March 1820 – 4 September 1894) was a Royal Navy officer who led one of the searches for the missing Arctic explorer John Franklin during the 1850s. In doing so, his expedition charted previously unexpl ...

, served in Halifax (1878–79) VCJohnEdmundCommerell.jpg, John Edmund Commerell, Commerell was awarded the

Victoria Cross The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious decoration of the Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom, British decorations system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British ...

for the Siege; served at Halifax (1882–85) File:HMS Northampton (1876).jpg, Commerell's flagship File:Algernon McLennan Lyons.JPG,

Algernon Lyons Admiral of the Fleet Sir Algernon McLennan Lyons (30 August 1833 – 9 February 1908) was a senior Royal Navy officer who served as First and Principal Naval Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria. Lyons also served as Commander-in-Chief, Pacific S ...

, served at Halifax (1886–88) File:HMS Bellerophon (1865).jpg, Lyons' flagship in Halifax

Franklin's Lost Expedition

Two Admirals were involved in the search for

Franklin's Lost Expedition Franklin's lost expedition was a failed British voyage of Arctic exploration led by Captain Sir John Franklin that departed England in 1845 aboard two ships, and , and was assigned to traverse the last unnavigated sections of the Northwest ...

: File:Sir Edward Augustus Inglefield by Stephen Pearce.jpg,

, served in Halifax (1878–79) File:Sir (Francis) Leopold McClintock by Stephen Pearce (2).jpg,

Francis McClintock Sir Francis Leopold McClintock (8 July 1819 – 17 November 1907) was an Irish explorer in the British Royal Navy, known for his discoveries in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. He confirmed explorer John Rae's controversial report gather ...

, served in Halifax (1879–82) File:HMS Northampton (1876).jpg, McClintock's flagship in Halifax

Other

File:FrancisAusten.jpg,

, brother of

; served in Halifax (1844-1848) File:HMS Vindictive, Royal Naval Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Austen's marker to commemorate the four that died on his flagship, –

Royal Navy Burying Ground (Halifax, Nova Scotia) The Royal Navy Burying Ground is part of the Naval Museum of Halifax and was the Naval Hospital cemetery for the North America and West Indies Station at Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is the oldest military burial ground in Canada. The cemetery has g ...

(1846)Two stones; four crew (1845, 1846) File:Lord Cochrane 1807.jpg, The 10th Earl of Dundonald, inspiration for

's protagonist

; served in Halifax (1848–51) File:HMS Wellesley, Royal Naval Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Cochrane's marker to commemorate the 11 that died on his flagship HMS ''Wellesley'',

, (1850) File:Admiral Alexander Milne (1808-1896), by Walter William Ouless.jpg, Alexander Milne, ''Trent'' Affair,

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

; served at Halifax (1860–64) File:HMS Nile, Royal Navy Burying Ground, Halifax, Nova Scotia.jpg, Milne's marker to commemorate the 16 that died on his flagship HMS ''Nile'' Monument,

, (1861) *

James Hope (Royal Navy officer) Admiral of the Fleet Sir James Hope, GCB (3 March 1808 – 9 June 1881) was a Royal Navy officer. As a captain he was present at the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado during the Uruguayan Civil War and then in the Baltic Sea during the Crimean War. ...

* Sir

George Wellesley Admiral Sir George Greville Wellesley (2 August 1814 – 6 April 1901) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer he took part in the capture of Acre during the Oriental Crisis in 1840 and, as Captain of in the Baltic Fleet, he took part ...

(1869–70) (1873–75)

Museum

Admiralty House was officially opened as a museum on March 26, 1974, by Rear Admiral D. S. Boyle."Maritime Command Museum", Maritime Forces Atlantic, The Canadian Navy
The house was declared a National Historic Site in 1978. The museum underwent extensive renovations in 2009–2010. The focus is on the history of the Canadian Navy from 1910 to the present, along with the earlier history of the Halifax Dockyard. Highlights include the original bell and a large display of artifacts from HMCS ''Niobe'', the first flagship of the

, and a display of ship's bells and

christening bell Christening may refer to: * Baptism, a Christian sacrament of initiation ** Infant baptism, the practice of baptizing infants or young children * Christening, a Christian naming ceremony * Christening, the naming of a vessel at a ceremonial ship ...

s spanning the history of the Canadian Navy. More than 30 rooms of exhibits are open to the public as well as grounds which display weapons and equipment from the Canadian Navy. The collection consists of uniforms, model ships, medals, badges, ships' bells, armaments, and other equipment of naval life. The museum also maintains a research library, archives and large photograph collection.

Artifacts

File:Laverna Katie Dollimore.png,

Order of Canada The Order of Canada () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

medal of Laverna Katie Dollimore for the

Iran Hostage Crisis The Iran hostage crisis () began on November 4, 1979, when 66 Americans, including diplomats and other civilian personnel, were taken hostage at the Embassy of the United States in Tehran, with 52 of them being held until January 20, 1981. Th ...

(1979) File:HMS Namur.jpg, Reported to be HMS Namur

figurehead In politics, a figurehead is a practice of who ''de jure'' (in name or by law) appears to hold an important and often supremely powerful title or office, yet '' de facto'' (in reality) exercises little to no actual power. This usually means that ...

File:Queens Steps, 1 Aug. 1959,Stadacona, CFB Halifax, Nova Scotia copy.jpg, This staircase is one of the few remaining landscape elements of Admiralty House's original grounds. Often confused with the "Queens Steps", this staircase can be traced through photographs in the museum's archive back to the late 1800s.

Royal Navy Burying Ground

ShannonStadaconaHalifaxNovaScotiaCanada2

The Royal Navy Burying Ground at Halifax has monuments to those served and lost in the medical facility as a result of the capture of USS ''Chesapeake'' by HMS ''Shannon''. There are 84 grave markers, but as many as 500 people buried there. There was a tradition where the Commander and Chief of the

North America and West Indies Station The North America and West Indies Station was a formation or command of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy stationed in North American waters from 1745 to 1956, with main bases at the Imperial fortresses of Bermuda and Halifax, Nova Scotia. The ...

who lived in Admiralty House created a grave marker for their crew who died while at the station.

Admiralty Garden

On the grounds of the Admiralty House is the Admiralty Garden which was created c. 1814 and has plaques and monuments displayed to honour Admirals and other military personnel. In 1972 the "Wall of Valour" was created to recognize the bravery decorations awarded to members of the Canadian Navy and the Naval Reserves. Those that are listen received:

Cross of Valour (Canada) The Cross of Valour () is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the second-highest award (surpassed only by the Victoria Cross), the highest honour available for Canadian civilians, and the highest of the three Canadian ...

;

Star of Courage (Canada) The Star of Courage () is a decoration that is the second-highest award for bravery within the Canadian system of honours, and one of the three Canadian Bravery Decorations awarded by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy- i ...

; and the

Medal of Bravery (Canada) The Medal of Bravery () is a decoration that is, within the Canadian system of honours, the third-highest award for bravery, and one of the three Canadian Bravery Decorations awarded by the Canadian monarch, generally through his or her viceroy- ...

. There are also plaques of

Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada National Historic Sites of Canada () are places that have been designated by the federal Minister of the Environment on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC), as being of national historic significance. Parks C ...

to commemorate the following Admirals: File:GeorgeAugustusWestphal.JPG,

George Augustus Westphal Sir George Augustus Alexander Westphal (27 March 1785 – 12 January 1875) was a Nova Scotian admiral in the Royal Navy who served in more than 100 actions. He was midshipman on HMS Victory, HMS ''Victory'' during the Battle of Trafalgar. Earl ...

Battle of Trafalgar The Battle of Trafalgar was a naval engagement that took place on 21 October 1805 between the Royal Navy and a combined fleet of the French Navy, French and Spanish Navy, Spanish navies during the War of the Third Coalition. As part of Na ...

File:Provo Wallis.jpg,

Provo Wallis Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy), Admiral of the Fleet Sir Provo William Parry Wallis, (12 April 1791 – 13 February 1892) was a Royal Navy officer. As a junior officer, following the Capture of USS Chesapeake, capture of USS ''Chesapeake'' by ...

File:Sir Edward Belcher by Stephen Pearce.jpg,

Edward Belcher Sir Edward Belcher (27 February 1799 – 18 March 1877) was a British naval officer, hydrographer, and explorer. Born in Nova Scotia, he was the great-grandson of Jonathan Belcher, who served as a colonial governor of Massachusetts, New ...

Franklin's lost expedition Franklin's lost expedition was a failed British voyage of Arctic exploration led by Captain Sir John Franklin that departed England in 1845 aboard two ships, and , and was assigned to traverse the last unnavigated sections of the Northwest ...

File:C E Kingsmill.jpg,

Charles Kingsmill Admiral Sir Charles Edmund Kingsmill, (7 July 1855 – 15 July 1935) was a Canadian-born naval officer and the first director of the Department of the Naval Service of Canada. After retiring from a career in the Royal Navy, he played a prominen ...

* George Edward Watts –

* Philip Westphal –

Affiliations

The museum is part of a system of 55 museums run by the

Canadian Department of National Defence Canadians () are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of their being ''C ...

. It is the largest naval museum within the system. The museum is also affiliated with the

Canadian Heritage Information Network The Canadian Heritage Information Network (CHIN; , RCIP) is a special operating agency within the federal Department of Canadian Heritage that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage institutions. It is based in Gatineau, Quebec, an ...

(CHIN) and works jointly with Nova Scotia's

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a maritime museum located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The museum is a member institution of the Nova Scotia Museum and is the oldest and largest maritime museum in Canada with a collection o ...

to present the naval history of the region.

Notes

References

External links

* {{Coord, 44, 39, 34.5, N, 63, 35, 33.5, W, display=title Naval museums in Canada Historic house museums in Nova Scotia Museums in Halifax, Nova Scotia Buildings and structures in Halifax, Nova Scotia Houses completed in 1819 Museums established in 1974 Georgian architecture in Canada National Historic Sites in Nova Scotia 1974 establishments in Nova Scotia