Pier 21

Pier 21

Pier 21 is located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and is a well-known national historic site. With societal progress, it was converted into an immigration museum beginning in 1999. On June 25, 2009, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper officially designated Pier 21 as the National Museum of Immigration to recognize the vital role immigrants have played in the building of Canada. Since then, around 15 million dollars have been invested in its maintenance and restoration.

For Canada, Pier 21 is like Ellis Island is to the United States. As an immigrant nation, Canada receives batches of newcomers from around the world every year. From 1928 to 1971, over one million immigrants arrived in Canada through Pier 21, making it the country’s principal port of entry for newcomers. During wartime in the last century, approximately half a million Canadian soldiers set off from this pier to fight on global battlefields. Pier 21 witnessed countless human dramas, carrying the hopes and dreams of many. Later, as most immigrants began arriving by air, Pier 21 ceased operations on March 8, 1971, after 43 years of service.

Today, the Pier 21 National Museum of Immigration houses thousands of scanned clippings, immigration-related materials, ship models, and digital photographs donated by individuals and organizations, making it a great place to revisit the immigration history of Pier 21.

Pier 21

Reason to visit: Canada's foremost historical landmark of immigration

Continent where the attraction is located: North America

Country/region where the attraction is located: Canada

Province/state where the attraction is located: Nova Scotia

City where the attraction is located: Halifax