Nova Scotia Museum of Industry facts for kids
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Established | 1986 |
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Location | 147 North Foord Street, Stellarton, Nova Scotia |
Type | Industry museum |
The Nova Scotia Museum of Industry is a cool place in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. It tells the amazing story of how people in Nova Scotia worked and what they created. It's part of the Nova Scotia Museum system. This museum helps us understand how Nova Scotia changed during the time of the Industrial Age. The Industrial Age was a period when new machines and factories changed how people lived and worked.
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Discover the Nova Scotia Museum of Industry
The idea for the museum started in 1974. People wanted to save the history of Nova Scotia's industries. A curator was hired in 1986 to start collecting items. The museum building is very large, about 80,000 square feet. It was finished in 1990 and opened to visitors in 1995.
The museum is located near the Trans Canada Highway. This area is important because it has some of Nova Scotia's oldest industrial sites. For example, the Foord Pit was once the deepest coal mine in the world. Also, the Albion Railway was Canada's first railway for both people and goods.
What You Can See at the Museum
The museum has more than 30,000 objects in its collection. These items help tell the story of Nova Scotia's past.
Famous Machines and Vehicles

One of the most famous items is the Samson locomotive. This train engine belonged to the Albion Railway. It is the oldest railway locomotive in all of Canada. Another special item is the Victorian. This was a "horseless carriage," meaning it was one of the first cars. It was the first gasoline-powered car built in the Maritimes.
Interactive Exhibits and Stories
The museum has many interactive galleries. These are places where you can explore and learn by doing things. They show how industry and work changed in Nova Scotia over time.
A big part of the museum is about coal mining in Nova Scotia. There is a special display about the Westray Mine disaster. This sad event happened near the museum on May 9, 1992. The exhibit helps visitors understand the history and challenges of coal mining.