Titanic's Connection to Nova Scotia
On her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, the RMS
Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic the night of April 14,
1912. Less than three hours later, the ship that would never sink
descended to its final resting site. Of its 2,228 passengers and crew,
1518 lost their lives. The story of Titanic, a remarkable engineering
feat of the early 20th century, continues to captivate our interest,
hearts and emotions.
Halifax, Nova Scotia, played a specific role in the Titanic story.
White Star officials in New York at first believed that the damaged
Titanic would sail to Halifax, the closest major port and trains with
relatives and immigration officials departed from New York to Halifax.
Hours after Titanic sank, White Star Line commissioned cable ships
based in Halifax to recover the bodies of victims. Of the 209 bodies
brought to Halifax, 150 were laid to rest at three local
cemeteries:
Titanic Exhibits in Halifax
The Maritime
Museum of the Atlantic, located on the Halifax waterfront, is
home to a permanent display of the largest and finest collection of
wooden Titanic artifacts in the world. From April 12 to October 31,
2012, discover the role Halifax cable ships and their crews played in
the Titanic recovery effort as you visit the cable ship exhibit at the
Museum. Diaries of crewmen and mementos from their Titanic
aftermath experiences will be on display and will provide a touching
reminder of the enormity of the disaster and of the Titanic’s tragic
end.
Nova Scotia Archives carries material including images, records
and
unique British magazines that are not digitized anywhere else on the
internet. In April, additional information will be added to the existing
online resource. You can view their virtual collections online.
Titanic 100th Anniversary Events
2012 marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic,
the world’s worst ocean disaster. Commemorative Titanic events and
special exhibits are planned in Halifax including:
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic will be featuring a special
photographic exhibition An Earnest Price: 150 Grave Stories, by
photographer Mr. Andrew Danson Danuskevsky. This photography
exhibit will run from April to June 2012. On the evening of April 14,
2012, a real time account of the unfolding of Titanic’s fate through the
same wireless messages operators received in 1912 will take place
over Twitter. Details on following Titanic on Twitter will be promoted
through the Maritime Museum as the anniversary draws near.
Ambassatours Gray Line will offer a Titanic 100
Year Experience Tour which includes a visit to the final resting
place of the Titanic victims at the Fairview Lawn Cemetery. At the Bedford Institute for Oceanography, you can view
an exhibit of what the Titanic looks like today lying on the ocean
floor.
A salute to the RMS Titanic will be part of the Royal Nova Scotia
International Tattoo, an indoor spectacle featuring 2000 world-class
Canadian and international military and civilian
performers.
The Gathering (Titanic Eve - Night of the Bells)
Saturday, April 14, 2012
8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, 1675 Lower Water Street,
Halifax Gather with family, friends and visitors at the waterfront side of the
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic for a walking, candle-lit procession.
The procession will make its way from the museum to the Grand
Parade, passing some of the city's Titanic-related landmarks along
the way.
Titanic Eve - Night of the Bells
Saturday, April 14, 2012
9:30 p.m. to 12:20 a.m.
Grand Parade, Halifax Join us in the Grand Parade as we honour Nova Scotia's connection
to theTitanic. Interpretive presentations and live performances will
express the story of the sinking of the ship, her passengers, and
Halifax's recovery efforts. At 12:20 a.m., when the Titanic began to
sink, a moment of silence will be held and flares will be set off to
symbolize the ship's call for help.
Titanic Spiritual Ceremony
Sunday, April 15, 2012
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Chisholm Avenue entrance,
Halifax An interfaith memorial service will take place at the Fairview Lawn
Cemetery in remembrance of the lives lost in the Titanic tragedy and
of the 121 Titanic victims buried at the cemetery. The service will
include a wreath laying and musical performances.
Titanic Locations of Interest
- The Five Fisherman restaurant
was once the John Snow & Co. Funeral Home. This funeral
home made preparations for the wealthier victims including John
Jacob Astor, a member of one of the wealthiest families of the United
States and Charles M. Hayes, the president of Grand Trunk
Railway.
- Titanic memorial services were conducted at five Halifax
churches: Saint George's Anglican Church, Saint Paul’s Anglican
Church, Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and Brunswick Street United
Church.
- Halifax millionaire George Wright perished in the sinking. His
ornate Edwardian mansion still stands on 989 Young Avenue at Inglis
Street.
For Partner Information:
Destination
Halifax
Titantic in Nova
Scotia - 100 Years - 1912-2012
Check out these booksPhotos (Left to Right): (1) Titanic Deck Chair at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (2) Model of the Titanic at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic (3) Titanic Exhibit at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Masthead Photo: Completed Titanic
in Belfast Lough, 2nd April 1912, courtesy National Museums of
Northern
Ireland, Collection Harland & Wolff