We love field trips! You can visit the Museum of Natural History for a self-tour, special presentation by staff, or an elementary school program. We offer programs on natural and cultural history. #MNH #FieldTrip #NovaScotia

Today in the lab, Museum tech Christian is hard at work scraping away iron oxide (rust) from the mounting holes where the thresher shark tail once hung. #novascotia

In 19th century Nova Scotia, skating was becoming a popular activity. But the old block skates were terrible – they were unstable and kept coming loose.

Come and work with us this summer! We are hiring Naturalist Programming Assistants to work with the Museum of Natural History this summer.

This pen & ink sketch depicts the Reverend Richard Preston, a former enslaved person of African descent from Virginia and War of 1812 Refugee, on horseback. Preston was a renowned orator, Baptist minister, educator, and co-founder of Halifax’s African Abolition Society. (P149.29, by Dr. J.B. Gilpin)

Celebrated the 3rd Monday in February, Nova Scotia Heritage Day is an annual reminder of our storied past & an opportunity to honour the remarkable people, places & events that have contributed to our heritage. The 2026 Honouree is Senator Joseph Willie Comeau: heritageday.novascotia.ca

Happy Galentine’s Day ❤ Cloaked marvel (Chytonix palliatricula), a noctuid moth with heart shapes on its forewings. (Thank you Brenna Frasier, Senior Curator Zoology)

In bowhead whales and right whales, the sternum sits in the chest cavity in front of the heart and is attached to the first pair of ribs, while in humans the sternum connects to several pairs of ribs. The sternum protects the heart and lungs.

Whale you be my Valentine? Glass whale oil lamp base (ca.1850s), with a heart pattern, and original two prong wick holder #ValentinesDay ❤️🐋

Brought home to Lunenburg by Captain Angus Walters from a West Indies voyage. The "Sailor's Valentine" was an intricate shell-design ornament or momento, often framing a photograph of the loved one. Credit: Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic

Storm Closures The following museums are closed today, Thursday, February 12, 2026, due to poor weather and road conditions: Fundy Geological Museum Museum of Industry Firefighters’ Museum of Nova Scotia #NovaScotia #NSStorm

Gaelic Language Bursary Supports Study in Scotland news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/02/1... Photo courtesy of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Scotland’s national centre for Gaelic language and culture

Today is International Day of Women and Girls in Science! We are so proud of the brilliant women across the Nova Scotia Museum system who lead, discover, and inspire every day. The world needs more #WomenInScience✨ #InternationalDayOfWomenInScience

Make plans to visit Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Écosse - open May to October. Step back in time and experience what life was like in an Acadian village a century ago. Hear Acadian spoken, savour home-cooked Acadian cuisine and hospitality. levillage.novascotia.ca

In honour of Nova Scotia Heritage Day the Museum of Natural History, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, and Museum of Industry will be open this Monday, February 16 with free admission.

Storm Closures The following museums are closed today, Wednesday, February 11, 2026, due to poor weather and road conditions: Fundy Geological Museum Black Loyalist Heritage Centre Firefighters’ Museum of Nova Scotia #NovaScotia #NSStorm

Women in 1800s Nova Scotia traveled all over the world doing missionary work, which was an alternate way of life from typical domestic duties, or provided a means of earning a living.

We are accepting applications for Nova Scotia Museum Research Grants. Completed application forms must be received by no later than 5 pm AST, March 13, 2026. Visit: museum.novascotia.ca/grants #novascotia

Planned Closure February 2 to 13 The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic will be closed for operational and building maintenance during this time. Reopening on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14. Boat School programming will continue as planned during the closure.

Remembering Viola Desmond, who died on this day in 1965. Viola Desmond, an African Nova Scotian entrepreneur and mentor, was arrested for daring to violate racial segregation in a New Glasgow theatre, marking a watershed moment for civil rights in Canada.

Don’t forget to bring your sketchbook and visit the Museum of Natural History’s newest exhibit Dinosaur Exploration 2.

#FossilFriday drawing of Plateosaurus skull and neck - on display in Dinosaur Explorations exhibit at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax. @novascotiamuseum.bsky.social

Tomorrow Dinosaurs are back at the Museum of Natural History! 🦖 Get up close with your favorites & discover the secrets of prehistoric survival. You’ll explore the intricacies of an Ankylosaurus’s armor, the sheer power of a Stegosaurus’s tail, and the defensive strength of a Triceratops’s frill.

William Hall was one of the first people to receive the British Empire's highest award for bravery, the Victoria Cross.

One day. 💚 #Dinosaur Exploration 2 is an all new exhibit - the sequel to the hit 2024 exhibit Dinosaur Exploration. Dinosaur Exploration 2 opens on Saturday, February 7th at your #Museum. Bring your love for horned and armoured dinosaurs and maybe find a new favourite dinosaur! #MNH #NovaScotia

Last week, participants in the NSM Natural History Collage series explored an array of curious specimens from Zoology Collections and spent much of the evening creating their own 'Fantastic Creatures' with Dr. Brenna Frasier Curator of Zoology.

Owl claw. Unlike humans, in a relaxed state an owl’s claws are clenched. Thanks to Dr. Brenna Frasier Curator of Zoology for the post.

Owl claw. Unlike humans, in a relaxed state an owl’s claws are clenched. Thanks to Dr. Brenna Frasier Curator of Zoology for the post.

A group of owls is a parliament. A group of frogs is an army. A group of turtles is a bale. A group of ravens is an unkindness. But what is a group of #dinosaurs?

Competitive rowing has long been a popular sport in Nova Scotia. And there was no one faster than George Brown, a fisherman from Herring Cove, Nova Scotia. He dominated the sport during the 1860s and 70s.

In 1845, 12 year old Rachel Barrett, most likely the child of a Black Refugee, stitched by hand an embroidery known as a sampler as part of her education at Halifax’s African School. Barrett’s sampler is the first of its kind discovered in Nova Scotia.

Happy World Wetlands Day! Today, we’re celebrating these incredible ecosystems that perform many important functions in our landscapes: improving water quality, controlling floods, recharging groundwater, protecting coastal infrastructure & providing critical habitat for endangered species.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is closed to the public from February 1 to 13 (inclusive) for operational and building maintenance. They will reopen on Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14! ❤️ (Boat School programs still on for registered groups.)

African Heritage Month 2026 is here. This year’s theme, Strength in Unity, celebrates the resilience, leadership and contributions of African Nova Scotian communities and the shared path forward. Learn more and explore upcoming events: https://novascotia.ca/african-heritage-month

February is African Heritage Month, a good time to start planning to connect with the rich history of African Nova Scotian culture with visits to museums and cultural centres, including the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre. #AHM2026

It’s extremely rare to find an entire skeleton of a fossil amphibian. But that’s what this is – except for a few missing pieces of the hands and feet and the very tip of the tail.

In 1846, a young Halifax lawyer from a powerful banking family spent a month aboard the coastal schooner Lady Vivian on a voyage from Halifax to Sydney and Pictou. This is James Cogswell’s illustrated logbook from that voyage – a light-hearted look at himself, the crew and their adventures ashore.

Girls are like “I needed this” and it’s a friendly Thursday morning greeting from the beloved gopher tortoise, Gus ❤️🐢

Too soon to start thinking about these little guys? Northern Spring Peepers emerge from hibernation in the spring. The call sounds like a high-pitched “peep”, which is repeated continually. You will likely hear hundreds before you ever see one. #novascotia

Many Nova Scotia settlers depended on waterfowl hunting to help put food on the table. Wooden decoys were used to trick the birds into coming closer. Some were purely functional, carved out in a hurry to get the job done.

All Eyes to be on Shubenacadie Sam for Annual Prediction news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/01/2...

Launch of African Heritage Month 2026 news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/01/2...

The provincial launch of African Heritage Month will take place today at 1:00 p.m. at the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia. The event will include a virtual proclamation and poster unveiling, which can also be viewed live at: https://www.youtube.com/live/33-dnfTWWBA

Gus has…shall we say…mixed feelings about winter and its snowstorms. The #Museum of Natural History is reopening today, January 27th, at 1:00pm. Admission is by donation, and not all exhibit areas are open. Please note, there may be unpredictable machine noise throughout Tuesday and Wednesday.

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In June 1939, 907 Jewish refugees aboard the M.S. St. Louis were refused entry to Canada, despite the pleas of prominent Canadians. buff.ly/limrPAc

2026 African Heritage Month Proclamation Join the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre on February 2 from 11 am to 2 pm to officially launch African Heritage Month 2026. This year’s theme is Strength in Unity: Moving Forward with Purpose, Prosperity, Power, and Progress. #AHM2026 #NovaScotia

Delayed Opening Due to current conditions, the following locations will have a delayed opening today, Tuesday, January 27: -Maritime Museum of the Atlantic -Museum of Natural History -Museum of Industry All three sites are scheduled to open at 1:00 pm. Stay safe. #NSstorm

On Tuesday, January 27, the Museum of Natural History will have a delayed opening. We will open at 1:00pm. The Museum is admission by donation now until February 7 while we work on some exhibit spaces. The next special exhibit, Dinosaur Exploration 2, opens February 7. #MNH #NovaScotia #NSStorm

Delayed opening: The Black Loyalist Heritage Center will delay opening until 11:00 am, today, Tuesday, January 27. #NSstorm

The Fundy Geological Museum and the Firefighters’ Museum of Nova Scotia will be closed today,January 27, due to the weather conditions. #NSStorm