CSS Acadia Celebrates 99th Birthday with Family Sunday Fun at Museum

The 99th birthday of the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic's largest artifact, CSS Acadia, is being celebrated on Family Sunday, July 8.

The celebration begins with cake at 1 p.m. on the wharf behind the Halifax museum where the Acadia is docked. There will be free admission on the ship from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. and Communication at Sea with a flag-hoisting station where visitors can tap in and practice their morse code in the radio room aboard the Acadia.

"The CSS Acadia is just one example of the many fun-filled learning opportunities available at Nova Scotia's museums this summer and all year round," said Communities, Culture and Heritage Minister Leonard Preyra. "I encourage all Nova Scotians to take advantage of the activities like those happening this weekend at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic to learn more about our province's diverse culture and heritage."

Launched in 1913, the Acadia arrived in Halifax Harbour July 8 and was a working ship for 56 years. It was the first vessel specifically designed to survey Canada's northern waters, and her career took her from the dangerous, icy waters of Hudson's Bay to Nova Scotia's South Shore.

Acadia holds the distinction of being the only surviving ship to have served the Royal Canadian Navy during both world wars, and is the only vessel still afloat today to have survived the Halifax Explosion.

"We are proud to celebrate Acadia and the active long-service duty that Acadia has contributed to our Maritime history. We're also excited to mark the milestone 100th birthday in 2013," Kim Reinhardt, museum manager.

The Maritime Museum of the Atlantic is located at 1675 Lower Water St., Halifax. For more information, call 902-424-7491.