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Frequently mentioned in reviews: museum (25) Africville (23) history (12) visit (12) community (12) residents (10) people (9) staff (8) Halifax (8)
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  • 5/5 J R. 1 year ago on Google
    The staff we're knowledgeable, friendly and very welcoming. This is a must see when visiting the province. So much untold history to be shared.
    6 people found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Chris B. 5 years ago on Google
    A nice, small museum that serves as a sad reminder of our all-too-recent hateful history. The demolishing of Africville is still very much within living memory, and it's very visible beyond the church interior what Halifax had done to its taxpayers here; by intentionally surrounding it with heavy industry and polluting facilities. The staff was very helpful and admission was a good price. You can read the primary documents of the city's apology and listen to the spirits celebrating the removed neighborhood. Definitely recommend the visit, and feel free to ask lots of questions!
    3 people found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Sloan C. 5 months ago on Google
    My partner and I visited some months ago. Unfortunately for us, there was a big class of excited kids there (awesome to see them getting to take such a cool field trip), but it made us being able to see anything quite tough. The staff were extremely kind and told us we could go without paying. Life kept happening and I kept remembering and forgetting again, but I want to donate the cost of our tickets to the museum. The site seems broken, so if anyone from the museum checks these reviews, please let me know if there's an alternate route for me to donate!
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 3/5 Joel N. 1 year ago on Google
    This was my last museum stop on my trip to Halifax. The museum was easy to find with lots of parking. The museum is located on the site of the Africville Park. The museum staff are friendly and welcoming and knowledgeable, at least one of who had personal connections to the former Africville community. As of May 25 when I visited, masking is still required, not just recommended. The museum specifically tells the story of the people who lived in Africville. The museum is laid out in a logical manner with large signs to read full of pictures and information detailing the life and spirit of the people who once lived in this area of Halifax. I do wish that the museum included more information about the history of African-Canadians in Nova Scotia in general. Several of the machines dispersed throughout the museum that play video clips are non-functioning. I'm happy I visited because it introduced me to a community that I didn't know about before.
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Donna C. 6 months ago on Google
    It's Canada's best kept secret that illustrates the horrors of racism, marginalization and hypocrisy in the name of urban redevelopment, community improvement and progress. I was so shocked by what I came to learn about the residents of Africville that it's taken me a few days to process before writing this review. Imagine citizens who paid taxes but never received basic services afforded to them by their government. The same government allowed their area to fall into a state of disrepair and decided instead of fixing the wrong, first tear down their church in the middle of the night, then their homes. To add insult to injury, they move the now displaced people into government housing. The reasoning? It was declared unsafe and it would be better for all the residents of Africville (who were Black btw) to live elsewhere so that they could "improve" the area through urban redevelopment. Can you believe this happened only a generation ago in the 1960's? This museum came about after decades of demanding an apology and for the government to right the wrong done to the people in Africville. They got an apology all right but only 2.5 acres of the 500 acres back to rebuild the church that was torn down and no extra funding to maintain or expand upon it. It's even very difficult to get to when it shouldn't. If ever you visit Halifax this is a museum you should see to remind us that we need to see each other as human beings and choose to do what is right in the eyes of God instead of what is expedient or convenient, glossing over the wrong with pretty words and vain intentions.
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Rebecca M. 8 months ago on Google
    The young man who gave me the tour was so good! He knew so much - specific dates and names - and was so passionate. Iโ€™m sorry I forget his name, but I think he said he was attending Dal. The museum is small but mighty. Definitely worth a visit. Hard to find, but once you get there, youโ€™ll wish youโ€™d brought a picnic. So lovely. I was there during the reunion. Thatโ€™s why I went, but it felt a bit โ€œprivateโ€. Not a tonne of information about that that I could see, but maybe it was meant to be private. Either way, I enjoyed my visit. Thank you!
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 My Name is J. 10 months ago on Google
    Africville was a great experience, also along with the museum. The staff were also very kind. There is no wait to enter the museum, though you have to enter and talk at the front desk.
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Dan P. 10 months ago on Google
    A place to ensure history isn't forgotten. Shows the stories of the people that lived here and a society that wanted them gone. Wonderful displays, audio and video info spots inside the recreated church and helpful staff to answer questions.
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Leo L. 1 year ago on Google
    This is a little museum which performs the history of the ever Africville community. There was a close-knit black people community with harmony. Similar with other African Canadian communities in the last century, the community were quite self-sufficient and isolated. Former residents recalled that they used to see kids laughing in the neibour. There were many little vegetable gardens, and residents often did amateur fishermen to enrich their dinner tables. It wasn't rare to see the residents off works from Halifax. Community dwellers had a good time with their neighbours. However, the bad city planning project destoried the peace and relocated the residents at the end of 1960s. There were some reports demonstrated drawbacks and poor conditions about the Africville as a residential land. Therefore, the HRM municipality decided to turn the land to industrial park to promote the local economy. Therefore, houses getting destruction, the Africville became a ruin. People from other communities were no longer to see the Africville with harmony. It's regretting for the former residents to recall the time which they grew up and enjoyed living in the Africville community, though there is a picnic party each year in July to memorize the age. Overall, the municipal officials might make an incorrect deed. There used to be an active and live community which was filled with plain and harmony.
    1 person found this review helpful ๐Ÿ‘

  • 5/5 Francis D. 1 year ago on Google
    Really great way to learn about the Africville community. We spoke to two ladies there who where super knowledgeable and passionate, they where great. Super important part of NS history

  • 5/5 Sarah B. 1 year ago on Google
    This is a very small museum with some history about Africville and its residents. It is a bit awkward to get to if you don't know the city but the museum and property are worth a visit. It would be an especially nice place to visit in the summer for a picnic and museum tour. Some of the audio-visual displays inside were only partially functional, but I think this speaks to the need by the City of Halifax and its residents to provide greater support to museum and its mandate. The displays and acommpanying text descriptions are very well done and our guide was able to tell the story of the community in age appropriate language to a group of young children.

  • 5/5 wangari m. 1 year ago on Google
    Worth visiting. The replica is small but very educational. The staff are knowledgable and very generous with their time. So much is still in limbo with this legacy. Do visit and donate!

  • 5/5 Hadi S. 1 year ago on Google
    Glad to say that I have had the opportunity to visit this historic site Africville and learn about this historical black African community and their history.

  • 5/5 Rochelle B. 1 year ago on Google
    Africville is an important part of Canadian History and Nova Scotia heritage. I am thankful for the family members and curators that put this together. The front desk staff was very informative and generous with their time. I got emotional when I found out that the dump was put right beside Africville when there were still residents living there. When you visit here, you will see that it is still an industrial dump right by the museum. The museum is hard to access and it is not serviced by transit. It's shameful... as if things have not changed. As if this piece of history is an afterthought to the city and would prefer it be forgotten rather than highlighted. Sign the petition to have a bus route service that area! BUT as the sign says - The Spirit Lives On. My wish is to visit here again and I hope to see the entire area converted to a vibrant Africville as it should be and deserves to be.

  • 5/5 Daisy E. 8 months ago on Google
    Africville museum was a gem in Halifax, run by knowledgeable guides and casting light on a difficult period of Canadian history, I learnt so much and it was very well put together. The city of Halifax needs to work on its transit though as without a car itโ€™s hard to get to (though worth it) which seems to echo the way in which the Africville community was isolated and ignored in the past.

  • 5/5 Rebecca J. 7 months ago on Google
    Everyone should visit to learn of how people were treated just 60 years ago. Their resilience is a model for everyone. Donโ€™t let this post of our history go unknown.

  • 5/5 shujath M. 1 year ago on Google
    its very nice places next to Murry mackay Bridge. you can see a pleasant slopes of natural green grass

  • 5/5 Jackie 1 year ago on Google
    I highly recommend visiting Africville, for locals and tourists. What an eye opening story. My 8 year old son asked if we could go, I was unaware of how the people of Africville were forced from their homes. I won't go into detail as you really should visit with your family and friends as well. The people working in the museum are just lovely and full of knowledge. The entrance fee is not expensive, I did also see they accept donations and I really think this would be a great place to donate some money to help out and make sure this place has what it needs. The scenery is beautiful right on the water and there are beautiful walking trails and benches to sit under the trees to get some shade! This is history we should all know. Go check it out and learn! You will not be disappointed.


Call +1 902-422-1116 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • โœ“๏ธ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • โœ“๏ธ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • โœ“๏ธ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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