Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History facts for kids
![]() Halifax Museum of Natural History, Aug 2015
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Established | 1868 |
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Location | 1747 Summer Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
Type | Natural history museum |
The Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History is an exciting place to explore in downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia. It is part of the larger Nova Scotia Museum system. This museum helps us learn about nature and the history of Nova Scotia.
You can discover amazing exhibits here. They show off everything from ancient fossils to local wildlife. You will also see cool artifacts that tell stories about Nova Scotia's culture.
Meet Gus the Tortoise
One of the most famous residents at the museum is Gus! Gus is a very old gopher tortoise. He has lived at the museum for almost his entire life.
A past museum curator, Donald Crowdis, bought Gus many years ago. Gus is known as one of the oldest gopher tortoises in the world. The museum celebrated his 97th birthday on August 11, 2019. Gus is a true superstar and a beloved part of the museum family.
Museum History
The museum has a long and interesting history. It first opened its doors way back in 1868. Back then, it was simply called the Provincial Museum.
New Homes for the Museum
In 1910, the museum moved to a new building. This building was part of the Nova Scotia Technical College. It was located on Spring Garden Road in Halifax.
Later, in 1947, the museum got a new name. It became known as the Nova Scotia Museum of Science. This name showed its focus on scientific discoveries.
Finding its Current Home
The museum moved to its current location in 1970. This building is on Summer Street. It is a great space for all the museum's collections.
In 1993, the museum officially became the Museum of Natural History. It is now a key part of the wider Nova Scotia Museum system. The main office for the Nova Scotia Museum is also in this building.