Pier 21, Halifax

This dock area was an assembly line for newcomers to Canada! As a child of parents who left their home for a better life, the story this institution tell hits close to home. Millions of immigrants saw pier 21 as their first canadian experience. some were accepted, some were rejected, some waited for a long long time, some were treated unfairly and had their dreams corrupted. immigrants probably mostly from europe.

There is first hand accounts in audioplaybacks, which brings you back to that time and puts you in the shoes of nurses, workers, volunteers, soldiers, and the newly arrived immigrants seeking that oh so important stamp "landed immigrant". The highlight of Pier 21 is the movie presentation, which is a 3-D pleasure; the realness was impressive as the immigration officer who would be the first canadian the ship weary travellors would ever meet in their lives, would check their papers . In the movie, the newly arrived immigrants convincingly anxious, worried and excited, as their fates were decided from a couple of papers and documents.

I particularly liked the section on the war brides; thousands of canadian soldiers come back with wives from UK and the rest of europe. and of course the story of the soldiers themselves where pier 21 was sometimes the last part of canada they saw leaving the dock, due to the tragedy of WWI and WWII. for the lucky ones pier 21 was a wondrous sight after serving in europe.

Halifax was the entry city for many immigrants before air travel became common, and Pier 21 was their point of entry. Now, Pier 21 is a museum with information on the waves of immigration that came through the pier (many were Europeans who were hit hard by economic problems, refugees, war brides, etc), and includes artefacts from those immigrants. It wasn't just immigrants either, soldiers who fought in the World Wars would sail to/from Europe through Pier 21. The museum also includes a guided tour, a video presentation, several video testimonies from immigrants, and fun games for kids.

Pier 21 is one of the historically most interesting places in Halifax. The pier was where most of the immigrants to Canada landed from 1928 to 1971. It was thus a place of joy and tears close together - joy for those who were admitted to the country, tears to those who weren't. A museum gives an overview on those years, focusing mainly on some objects that are connected to immigration to Canada. More interesting than the actual exhibition is the 3D multimedia show in there that tells the story of a fictitious officer of Pier 21 who worked there from 1928 to 1971 and saw thousands of immigrants entering the country. In addition to nearly 1.000.000 people entering Canada, 500.000 soldiers left it via Halifax during World War II.
When you're done with the museum, don't miss visiting the souvenir shops downstairs. They are well-sorted and offer a multitude of interesting souvenirs.

Pier 21 is a Canadian immigration museum. It operated from 1928 to 1971 as Canada's primary immigration port. In that time over a million and a half immigrants, war refugees, and soldiers entered Canada through its doors.
Pier 21 was refurbished and opened as a museum on July 1, 1999.
Inside (upstairs) there are displays of passports, photos, stories, and a bunch of small movie theatres where you can learn the immigration experience for people coming from different countries (i.e., one booth is labelled "Russian", another "Poland", etc.)
What struck me most was a recreation of a waiting room with a customs desk at the front. I can't imagine what it must've felt like sitting there waiting with your family for your turn to move permanently into a strange new country.
We attended my cousin's wedding ceremony here--they wanted to do it at this location because the bride's grandparents came to Canada through Pier 21.

Today, Pier 21 stands as a museum about immigration. But from 1928 to 1971, it was the main immigration port for immigrants arriving in Canada on the east coast. This museum isn't too big but it consists of one main room, a side room for WW2 stories, a theatre in the back and a series of very small viewing rooms. Pier 21 tries to convey information primarily through the use of immigrants' real life stories and recollections. The 25 minute video (included in admission) shown in the main theatre tells the tales of a number of people's experiences at Pier 21. It's not bad for just $8CDN (2006). Don't forget to show your CAA card. You can get a 15% discount.

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The famous Pier 21 of Halifax is located along the scenic waterfront boardwalk of Halifax, and it is now a museum which opens all year around. This is one of the major attractions in Halifax because this pier is where many people from all over the world (especially Europe) enter Canada and became citizens of this new country then. There are lots of exhibits here, which are very educational in terms of the history of Canada. Located at the museum area is also a nice viewing area with a good view of the harbour and McNab's Island (there are telescopes provided here). Pier 21 is highly recommended if you are visiting Halifax. More photographs are at the travelogue section of this VT page.

From 1928 to 1971, Pier 21 was Canada's 'front door' to over a million immigrants, wartime evacuees, refugees, troops, war brides and their children. They enriched our social and cultural landscape and uplifted the very soul of Canada forever.

Pier 21 was recently named a historic landmark--it's where many Canadians can trace their history best as their ancestors most likely passed through here. The area is great for not only Canadians interested in genealogy, but also for anyone wanting to learn some history of the area. There are signs that explain the process of the immigration here. It's funny to think that this wasn't long ago at all--this is the 20th century port of entry...from the 1920's until 1971.

It's amazing the things you learn when you have no agenda...we just saw water and walked down to it, not really knowing of the pier's significance. The whole waterfront area is incredible...more tips on that later.