The four-masted, iron hull barque Crofton Hall, wrecked on the northeast bar of Sable Island, 1898.
Atlantic Ocean’s Floor
Before the colonization of Nova Scotia, the shores of Miꞌkmaꞌki—the ancestral and enduring territory of the Mi’kmaq—were treacherous and temptingly rich in resources. Trade, politics and technology lured many ships to our rocky coasts, and many met their ends here. No fewer than 10,000 ships lie beneath the waves.
Striking Discoveries
Enter our gallery and uncover secrets of warfare, natural disaster, and piracy. See through the eyes of an underwater archeologist as you dig through layers of seafaring history. Meet the enemies of high-seas researchers: storms, ocean currents and microorganisms. Moving through the gallery you will learn how a humble pewter spoon can be worth more than a golden doubloon.
Diversity in Origins
Ships from all over the world and from four centuries wait for you. Examine the remains of vessels whose wrecks caused global scandals, or dive deep into local mysteries. Meet tragic captains, foolhardy mutineers, and some of the earliest trans-Atlantic travellers in our Shipwreck Treasures exhibit.