HALIFAX CITADEL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

It is the fourth bastioned fortification erected on this site by the British since 1749, to protect themselves from possible French and American attacks. Period military scenes from the 78th Highlanders and the^3rd Brigade Royal Artillery are re-enacted, making the tour interactive and fun. Halifax's past and the citadel's military history are recounted in the exhibit halls, including the history of the four citadels, from the first wooden one built by Edward Cornwallis and the British colonists (destroyed by weathering and neglect) to the present star-shaped stone citadel designed by Colonel Gustavus Nicolls of the Royal Engineers (note that while construction began in 1828, design errors delayed completion until 1856). Funny fact: the four citadels have never been attacked... Different tours are offered: self-guided tour, guided tour with costumed interpreter, haunted candlelight tour, special tour with spirits tasting, etc.

The site also features the old clock tower, the city's emblem, which was built in 1803 to ensure the punctuality of the soldiers. It was almost entirely rebuilt by Parks Canada in the early 1960s, but its clockwork is the same as it was in the past.