Programs & Events of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is pleased to unveil a display of recently acquired artifacts associated with the sinking of the RMS Titanic.

Acquired this past October, the artifacts are valuable additions to the Museum’s permanent Titanic exhibit, which tells the story of Halifax’s connection to the ill-fated vessel. Their purchase was made possible through the support of the Nova Scotia Museum Endowment Fund, administered by the Nova Scotia Museum Board of Governors.

The new items included in the exhibit are as follows:

Mortuary Bag

The mortuary bag was sewn aboard the Halifax cable ship Mackay-Bennett and was used to safeguard the personal effects of Body No. 41, 33 year-old Edmund Stone, a First Class bedroom Steward from Southampton who was buried at sea.

The core of the system for body recovery and identification, mortuary bags were made aboard ship as the bodies were found and they proved very effective in keeping victims’ personal effects together, both on the ship and in the morgue. This system was so successful in the process of identifying bodies and returning personal effects to families, that the coroner during the Halifax Explosion followed the Titanic example and made identical bags for the personal effects of Explosion victims.

Wreckwood Rosette

The wreckwood rosette belonged to William Parker, a Nova Scotian carpenter aboard the Halifax cable ship Minia. who participated in the recovery of Titanic victims. Like many sailors, Parker collected several pieces of floating Titanic debris to keep as mementos of the historic disaster.

Parker crafted the decorative rosette out of eight pieces of the oak balustrade from the ship’s grand staircase. Titanic wreckwood is the specialty of the Maritime Museum’s Titanic exhibit and many of the pieces in that collection were made by Parker, such as a cribbage board he crafted from Titanic oak. The addition of the rosette further enhances the significance of this unique collection.

Photograph and Cap Badge

The photograph and cap badge included in the display also belonged to William Parker. The signed photograph is of Parker himself, dressed in the cable company uniform he wore aboard Minia, while the his cap badge came from a different cable ship uniform he most likely wore aboard another vessel during his 45 year career at sea.

Already in possession of Parker’s sea chest and the tools he used to craft his wreckwood pieces, the Museum was eager to obtain the photograph and cap badge as both objects further illustrate this regular Nova Scotian who played a small role in Titanic’s history.

Upcoming Events & Programs
	Exhibits... Walking Tours... Birthday Parties... Nightwatch... At the Wharves...


	Exhibits
Temporary Exhibit On the Road North: Black Canada and the Journey to Freedom Available throughout July and August, 2009	In the 18th century, Black Canadians began a long journey, one composed of many human stories. These narratives encompass groundbreaking laws, acts of personal heroism, as well as years of steady and determined work. “On the Road North” tells just some of these stirring tales of idealism, courage and leadership. In cooperation with Canadians from across the country, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada recommends persons, places and events to be recognized as nationally significant to Canada’s history. This exhibit tells the story of Canada’s Black communities through the lens of these national designation. (Cost included with Museum admission.)

Temporary Exhibit New additions to Titantic Exhibit: Mortuary Bag and Artifacts	The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is pleased to unveil a display of recently acquired artifacts associated with the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Acquired this past October, the artifacts are valuable additions to the Museum’s permanent Titanic exhibit, which tells the story of Halifax’s connection to the ill-fated vessel. Their purchase was made possible through the support of the Nova Scotia Museum Endowment Fund, administered by the Nova Scotia Museum Board of Governors. The new items included in the exhibit are as follows: Mortuary Bag The mortuary bag was sewn aboard the Halifax cable ship Mackay-Bennett and was used to safeguard the personal effects of Body No. 41, 33 year-old Edmund Stone, a First Class bedroom Steward from Southampton who was buried at sea. The core of the system for body recovery and identification, mortuary bags were made aboard ship as the bodies were found and they proved very effective in keeping victims’ personal effects together, both on the ship and in the morgue. This system was so successful in the process of identifying bodies and returning personal effects to families, that the coroner during the Halifax Explosion followed the Titanic example and made identical bags for the personal effects of Explosion victims. Wreckwood Rosette The wreckwood rosette belonged to William Parker, a Nova Scotian carpenter aboard the Halifax cable ship Minia. who participated in the recovery of Titanic victims. Like many sailors, Parker collected several pieces of floating Titanic debris to keep as mementos of the historic disaster. Parker crafted the decorative rosette out of eight pieces of the oak balustrade from the ship’s grand staircase. Titanic wreckwood is the specialty of the Maritime Museum’s Titanic exhibit and many of the pieces in that collection were made by Parker, such as a cribbage board he crafted from Titanic oak. The addition of the rosette further enhances the significance of this unique collection. Photograph and Cap Badge The photograph and cap badge included in the display also belonged to William Parker. The signed photograph is of Parker himself, dressed in the cable company uniform he wore aboard Minia, while the his cap badge came from a different cable ship uniform he most likely wore aboard another vessel during his 45 year career at sea. Already in possession of Parker’s sea chest and the tools he used to craft his wreckwood pieces, the Museum was eager to obtain the photograph and cap badge as both objects further illustrate this regular Nova Scotian who played a small role in Titanic’s history.

Temporary Exhibit Hurricane Havoc Opens August 1, 2009	What will the 2009 hurricane season bring to the North Atlantic? Visit the Maritime Museum and watch as staff track the progress of this year’s storms on a giant weather map. Learn about the hurricanes that have battered Nova Scotia’s shores over the past century-and-a-half, and view the Canadian Meteorological Service’s Hurricane Centre website for the very latest on hurricanes.

Temporary Exhibit Tugs! Working Heroes of Halifax Harbour	Whether they’re towing gigantic oil rigs out to sea, helping huge cruise ships safely into port, or even saving other vessels from fire, sturdy Tugboats prove every day that big doesn’t always mean better. The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic proudly presents TUGS, a bilingual exhibit that will show the whole family why mighty Tugboats are some of the hardest working ships around!

	Workshops
Knot a Nautical Christmas Wreath	This popular favourite will be offered again in late November, 2009. Watch this space for dates and times.

	Walking Tours
Halifax Explosion Walking Tours Saturday afternoons	Every year, local history enthusiast Jim Simpson leads walking tours of the North End of Halifax as he tells the stories of tragedy, survival and human spirit that are linked to the massive Explosion that rocked Halifax on December 6, 1917. Watch this space for the 2009 dates.

	Birthday Parties
Birthday Parties at the Maritime Museum Saturday afternoons available between 12 and 4	Looking for that unique, and more importantly, different and new birthday party experience for your children aged 5 to 12 years? Are your children interested in pirates? What about shipwrecks? Look no further. Call us at 902-424-7491 to discuss your needs and your child's interests. Costs will depend on specific program requirements. Click here to see more.

	Nightwatch
NIGHT WATCH OVERNIGHT ADVENTURE PROGRAM September to June	Museums take on a whole different appearance once they are closed for the evening. Imagine having one all to yourself for an entire night. This is all possible with Night Watch, an awesome overnight adventure at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, in the heart of the historic Halifax waterfront! You and your group will have an all access pass to one of the coolest museums in Atlantic Canada! Possible Evening Adventures: Night Watch caters to a diverse age range. We provide you with the opportunity to customize your evening in order to best incorporate the elements you feel would be most beneficial to your group. All programs include a visit to the museum steam ship CSS Acadia and the Robertson Store, a restored marine supply store. You choose your own adventure for the balance of the evening. Click Here for Evening Outline. During Night Watch, the educational opportunities are endless. Below are a few of the themes and exhibits that can be directly linked to curriculum outcomes. Click on the theme for further exhibit details. CSS Acadia Robertson Store Titanic Shipwrecks Halifax Explosion Ghost Tour The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is one of the premiere museums in Atlantic Canada and is a safe and secure environment for your overnight adventure. Your program is run by trained staff familiar with the museum environment. A staff member remains on site for the overnight component and the building has a 24 hour security guard. For more information click the link below. When to come and what is included? Night Watch is offered seasonally from October to June. Monday evenings are reserved for school groups. Depending on site availability, the program can be offered on Friday and Saturday evenings. Start Time: 6:30pm, Departure Time: 8:15am. Evening snack and light breakfast provided. Structured program delivered by enthusiastic and professional staff. Opportunity for self exploration of galleries. Thousands of children and their chaperones have been thrilled by their Night Watch experience since the program's inception in 2002. Your group could be next! For more information or to book your Night Watch adventure, please contact: Adam Langley Education and Interpretation Consultant Heritage Explorers Unit 10 82 Portland Street, Dartmouth, NS B2Y 1H6 Ph: (902) 446-4416 Email: info@heritageexplorers.com Web: Heritage Explorers

	At The Wharves
Historic Ship: CSS Acadia CLOSED FOR THE SEASON REOPENING IN LATE JUNE, 2009	Ninety years ago, the ship CSS Acadia, now permanently berthed behind the museum, was commissioned and began a distinguished service of more than half a century of hydrographic surveying. Acadia was launched in 1913 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England at the yards of Swan, Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd. She was specifically designed and built to survey Canada's coastal waters and her career took her from the dangerous, ice-infested waters of Hudson Bay to Nova Scotia's South Shore. Acadia remains a classic example of the best that her British builders had to offer during the Edwardian era. With her two masts and single funnel, she resembles a small steam yacht more than a hardworking survey vessel. Her interior displays a class of marine craftsmanship typical of that great tradition with beautiful mahogany and oak paneling and fine brasswork to be found throughout the quarters of the hydrographic staff and officers, giving them accommodations that suggest the great ocean liners of the same era. More info is available on this website.


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Upcoming Events & Programs

Mortuary Bag

Wreckwood Rosette

Photograph and Cap Badge

Workshops

Walking Tours

Birthday Parties

Nightwatch

At The Wharves