8 Museums in Shelburne That You Shouldn't Miss

​Shelburne’s Museums by the Sea is a group of three unique museums located in Shelburne, Nova Scotia. The Dory Shop Museum, part of the Nova Scotia Museum, is also a working dory shop and brings to life Shelburne’s rich boat building heritage. ​The Ross-Thomson House and Store Museum, also a part of the Nova Scotia Museum, is a living history museum interpreting the home and business lives of Loyalist settlers George and Robert Ross and Robert Thomson. Shelburne County Museum presents the diverse history and heritage of Shelburne County from the founding peoples - the Mi'kmaq, Loyalist, Black Loyalist, Acadian and Welsh - to the glorious age-of-sail shipbuilding era and the fishery. The museum complex is operated by the Shelburne Historical Society.

The Osprey Arts Centre, located on historic Dock Street along Shelburne’s picturesque harbour, presents popular and classical music, dance, live theatre, film, and art exhibitions. The Lobby Gallery presents visual art exhibits by professional and emerging artists with a local connection, while the theatre hosts a diverse selection of local and touring performances. The Osprey also hosts events across Shelburne County in schools and other venues and rents its space to community groups and private concerns for public and private functions such as weddings, meetings, conferences and lectures. Visit our website ospreyartscentre.ca for more information and details on upcoming events.

Depending on the weather you may want to bring a picnic lunch and nourish yourself before you begin this extraordinary experience of the old and new. Climb up the Shaw Turret where we commemorated all Black Loyalist communities as you overlook Birchtown Bay. Or enter into the Centre's Lindsey Gallery and dive into the multimedia presentation of the Black Loyalist journey from Africa to the US then to Nova Scotia and back to Africa. Explore the virtual copy of the Carlton's Book of Negroes and search for your ancestor who may have experienced part of this incredible journey. Also explore our amazing archaeological pit which embodies this extraordinary narrative of the past and present. Have fun examining the archaeological artifacts excavated here in Birchtown. Before you leave us please take the time to create a virtual quilt square that will tell us about your experience and how this story has impacted you and what you have learned. Please continue to explore our site and visit our historical buildings where you can view our Bunce Island exhibit and movie, the National Historic Monument that commemorated the 1783 Black Loyalist Landings of Nova Scotia, explore our Heritage Trail and visit the Pit House. Be prepared to spend some time with us.