Between 1928 and 1971, Pier 21 processed nearly one-sixth of all immigrants to Canada.
During World War II, the terminal served as an embarkation point for nearly 500,000 Canadian military personnel departing for overseas.
The facility served as a reception center for British war brides and their children arriving in Canada after the war.
The museum houses a collection of original luggage and personal effects left behind or brought by arriving immigrants.
The site includes a reconstruction of a 1920s-era immigration hall, offering a sensory look at the arrival process.
The Scotiabank Family History Centre allows visitors to search digitized ships' manifests from the early 20th century.
The building was designed by Andrew R. Cobb and reflects the utilitarian architectural style of mid-20th-century maritime transit hubs.
The Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 is located in the former ocean liner terminal where one million immigrants first arrived in Canada between 1928 and 1971. The site is a National Historic Site of Canada, preserving the legacy of arrivals and the historical significance of the Halifax waterfront. Exhibits trace the personal stories of immigrants through oral histories, photographs, and artifacts. Visitors can explore the Scotiabank Family History Centre to access archival immigration records and passenger lists. The museum highlights the diverse cultural impact of immigration on the development of Canadian society. It serves as both a museum and a research institution dedicated to the preservation of Canadian immigration history.
The outdoor plaza facing the harbour, which features historic signage and views of the working port.
Use the onsite Scotiabank Family History Centre to search for ancestral records; staff are available to assist with genealogy research.
Allow extra time to read the extensive oral history transcripts available at interactive listening stations.
Visit the gift shop for books specifically focused on local immigration history and Canadian multicultural studies.
Do not rush through the oral history stations, as these personal accounts provide the most significant context to the physical exhibits.
Open daily; occasionally closes for private events or statutory holidays.
