Maritime Command Museum
Encyclopedia
The Maritime Command Museum is a Canadian Forces
museum
and National Historic Site located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
which collects, preserves and displays the artifacts and history of the Royal Canadian Navy
.
The museum is located in the historic Admiralty House within CFB Halifax
and is open to the public year-round.
commanding the North American Station of the British Royal Navy
from 1819 to 1905. Construction of the large Palladian Style Georgian
house overlooking the Halifax Naval Yard
began in 1814. Squadron commanders previously resided aboard a flag ship moored at the Naval Yard. The house was completed in 1819. It became the summer residence of the Admiral of the North American Squadron when the squadron shifted its main base to Bermuda
in 1818. 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 for 600 guests hosted by Admiral Thomas Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald
in 1848. Another famous resident of the house was Admiral Francis Austen
, brother of the famous novelist Jane Austen
. In all, 36 admirals lived in the house, the last being Sir Day Hort Bosanquet.
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
it served as a naval hospital. Badly damaged by the Halifax Explosion
, 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 Royal Canadian Navy
base HMCS Stadacona, serving as a Wardroom Officer's Mess and later as office space. In 1961 it became the library for the Royal Canadian Navy
and provided classroom space.
as well as a display of ship's bells and christening
bells spanning the history of the Canadian Navy. The museum also maintains a research library, archives and large photograph collection. 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 Museum is accessed through the Stadacona Gate of CFB Halifax
.
. It is the largest Naval Museum within the system. The Museum is also affiliated with the Canadian Heritage Information Network
(CHIN) and works jointly with Nova Scotia's Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
to present the naval history of the region.
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
museum
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
and National Historic Site located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
which collects, preserves and displays the artifacts and history of the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
.
The museum is located in the historic Admiralty House within CFB Halifax
CFB Halifax
Canadian Forces Base Halifax is Canada's east coast navy base and home port to the Atlantic fleet, known as Maritime Forces Atlantic....
and is open to the public year-round.
Admiralty House
The museum occupies Admiralty House which served as the official residence of the AdmiralAdmiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
commanding the North American Station of the British Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
from 1819 to 1905. Construction of the large Palladian Style Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
house overlooking the Halifax Naval Yard
Royal Naval Dockyard, Halifax
Royal Naval Dockyard, Halifax was a British Royal Navy base in Halifax, Nova Scotia from 1759 to 1905. The Halifax Yard was the main year round base of the Royal Navy's North American Station when first established in 1759 during the Seven Years' War....
began in 1814. Squadron commanders previously resided aboard a flag ship moored at the Naval Yard. The house was completed in 1819. It became the summer residence of the Admiral of the North American Squadron when the squadron shifted its main base to Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
in 1818. As the residence of one of the most important officials in Halifax
City of Halifax
Halifax is a city in Canada, which was the capital of the province of Nova Scotia and shire town of Halifax County. It was the largest city in Atlantic Canada until it was amalgamated into Halifax Regional Municipality in 1996...
, Admiralty House hosted many social and ceremonial events in the 19th Century. One of the largest was a ball for 600 guests hosted by Admiral Thomas Cochrane, Earl of Dundonald
Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald
Admiral Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald, 1st Marquess of Maranhão, GCB, ODM , styled Lord Cochrane between 1778 and 1831, was a senior British naval flag officer and radical politician....
in 1848. Another famous resident of the house was Admiral Francis Austen
Francis Austen
Sir Francis William Austen, GCB was a British officer who spent most of his long life on active duty in the Royal Navy, rising to the position of Admiral of the Fleet.-Background:...
, brother of the famous novelist Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
. In all, 36 admirals lived in the house, the last being Sir Day Hort Bosanquet.
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
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
it served as a naval hospital. Badly damaged by the Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, which accidentally collided with the Norwegian SS Imo in "The Narrows"...
, 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 Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
base HMCS Stadacona, serving as a Wardroom Officer's Mess and later as office space. In 1961 it became the library for the Royal Canadian Navy
Royal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
and provided classroom space.
Museum
Admiralty House was officially opened as a museum on March 26, 1974 by Rear Admiral D. S. Boyle. The house was declared a National Historic Site in 1978. The Museum underwent extensive renovations in 2009-2010. The collection consists of uniforms, model ships, medals, badges, ships' bells, armaments, and other equipment of naval life. 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 flag ship of the Royal Canadian NavyRoyal Canadian Navy
The history of the Royal Canadian Navy goes back to 1910, when the naval force was created as the Naval Service of Canada and renamed a year later by King George V. The Royal Canadian Navy is one of the three environmental commands of the Canadian Forces...
as well as a display of ship's bells and christening
Christening
Christening is a naming ceremony associated with:*Baptism*Infant baptism*Ship naming and launching...
bells spanning the history of the Canadian Navy. The museum also maintains a research library, archives and large photograph collection. 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 Museum is accessed through the Stadacona Gate of CFB Halifax
CFB Halifax
Canadian Forces Base Halifax is Canada's east coast navy base and home port to the Atlantic fleet, known as Maritime Forces Atlantic....
.
Affiliations
The Museum is part of a system of 55 museums run by the Canadian Department of National DefenceDepartment of National Defence (Canada)
The Department of National Defence , frequently referred to by its acronym DND, is the department within the government of Canada with responsibility for all matters concerning the defence of Canada...
. It is the largest Naval Museum within the system. The Museum is also affiliated with the Canadian Heritage Information Network
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
(CHIN) and works jointly with Nova Scotia's Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
Maritime Museum of the Atlantic
The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a Canadian maritime museum located in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia.The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is a member institution of the Nova Scotia Museum and is the oldest and largest maritime museum in Canada with a collection of over 30,000 artifacts...
to present the naval history of the region.