Shore Excursion W:
W is for White Star! White Star was the owner of the Titanic and the SS Atlantic, both of which came to grief in the Atlantic Ocean. The former in 1912 and the latter in 1873. This tour will visit many sites associated with these two ships.
Leaving the cruise ship dock, we’ll head north along Lower Water Street and pass numerous historical sites including the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic which houses the foremost collection of Titanic memorabilia including the only surviving deck chair. Next, we’ll pass by the Cable Wharf which is where the recovery ships Mackay-Bennett and Minia were usually docked when in the Port of Halifax.
We’ll detour briefly from here to pass a number of sites; historic City Hall, the Grand Parade, St. Paul’sChurch, and the original site of Snow’s Funeral Home where some of the victims of the Titanic were taken. We’ll also see the original site of the Nova Scotia College of Art & Design, one of whose founders was “Anna” of the “The King & I“ fame.
Returning to the Chebucto Landing area, we’ll drive north to the Casino which is adjacent to Karlsen’s Wharf which is from where the Mackey-Bennett sailed to the Titanic disaster site. The area around the MacDonald Bridge marks the spot where the victims were brought ashore and then taken to the temporary morgue at The Mayflower Curling Rink.
As we continue on our way to the Fairview Lawn Cemetery (circa 1883) for a visit, we’ll pass by the site of The Halifax Explosion (1917) and have a view of Bedford Basinwhere the convoys of WWI & WWII sailed. The Fairview Lawn Cemetery is known as the Titanic Cemetery as 121 victims are buried here. In total, 151 victims of the Titanic are buried in three Halifax cemeteries. Following our visit, we will be stopping for coffee and a rest.
We’ll have a short visit to a place where ‘time began’ before we make our way to site/area of the first White Star Line disaster. The White Star’s luxury steamship S.S. Atlantic ran into Mar’s Head at Lower Prospect on April 1, 1873. It appears April was an unlucky month for the White Star Line. This was the worst single vessel disaster to occur in Canadian waters prior to the Titanic. Five hundred and sixty two people lost their lives that day, but 390 were saved due to the efforts of the local fishermen and their families.
We’ll visit the Interpretation Center, the mass burial site, stroll the boardwalk that wraps around the coastline, and perhaps have a rest at the gazebo to take in the magnificent view. This area has been landscaped and interpretive panels installed which tell the story of this disaster. Prior to leaving, we’ll tour around the area which I personally know to be a more scenic and authentic fishing community than the one found at Peggy’s Cove.
We’ll then return to the cruise ship dock passing by Peggy’s Coveon our way to Tantallon. If you wish (and time permits), we can stop briefly at Acadian Maplebefore we make our back to the ship.
Tour time is estimated to be approximately 5.5 hours