Nova Scotia Museum Sites Ready to Celebrate Heritage All Summer

Twenty-seven Nova Scotia Museum sites across the province are open and ready to provide visitors with a wide range of engaging heritage experiences this summer.

"Nova Scotia's diverse and rich heritage comes to life through the wide range of activities and exhibits at our museums," said Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister David Wilson, "They are creating unique experiences and memories for visitors in communities across the province this summer."

Find your place in the forest in the Netukulimk interactive space at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax. Netukulimk, a Mi'kmaq philosophy, describes the connection between all living things. The concept crosses cultures and generations and refers to individual experiences harmonizing the natural and human worlds. The interactive space features live animals and six larger-than-life multimedia units designed to engage the senses of touch, sight and hearing.

Visit the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax to see Hello Sailor! Gay Life on the Ocean Wave. The exhibit looks at gay culture as part of seafaring life from the 1950s to present day and is making its North American debut at the museum.

Witness the craft of dory building first-hand at the Dory Shop Museum in Shelburne. Lightweight, versatile and easy to build thanks to their simple lines, dories were once the backbone of the fishing industry. One of Shelburne's great claims to fame was the town's rich dory-building tradition, which still survives today.

This August, Lawrence House Museum in Maitland celebrates its 40th anniversary as part of the Nova Scotia Museum. This bright Victorian home once belonged to William D. Lawrence, a shipbuilder who secured his place in history when he constructed Canada's largest wooden-hulled, fully rigged ship in 1874, named William D. Lawrence. Hear tales from the Golden Age of Sail and learn about the critical role shipbuilding played in our province's history.

From the crackle of wood burning in the cook stove to the smell of the saltwater breeze, visit Fisherman's Life Museum in Jeddore Oyster Pond on the Eastern Shore, to experience the warmth of a fishing family's home. Built in the early 1900s, this house once belonged to Ervin Myers, his wife Ethelda and their 13 daughters. Tour this charming home or take a stroll around the grounds to find out how extraordinary ordinary life used to be.

Be present in the past at Sherbrooke Village, a living history site in Guysborough County. Sherbrooke Village features 25 original heritage buildings and costumed interpreters. Hitch a ride on the horse-drawn wagon and visit the animals on site. Watch sparks fly as the blacksmith's hammer hits the anvil, see the weaver's nimble hands at the loom and smell the newly shaved wood in the wood turner's shop.

Watch as grains are ground, sifted and turned into flour at Balmoral Grist Mill Museum, a three-storey mill tucked away in a wooded gorge in Balmoral Mills. See the mill in action, just as it would have been when it opened in 1874.

Learn about Acadian heritage at Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Écosse in Lower West Pubnico. Situated on a 17-acre site overlooking Pubnico Harbour, this seaside village celebrates a language and culture that has thrived for more than 350 years. Explore historic buildings, savour delicious cuisine and enjoy traditional Acadian hospitality.

For information on the 27 museums sites, scheduled events, locations, admission rates and hours of operation, visit http://museum.gov.ns.ca .