Historic Sites in the Annapolis Valley

Because of all the historic sites here plenty of people come to Annapolis Valley looking for history. This is Canada's birthplace, where it all started. Many important and interesting first in Canada and North America happened here.


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During the 1990 Western Days in Annapolis Royal the song "Your Cheating Heart" was played at Fort Anne in an attempt to have the most guitars playing the same song together at one time.

Because of its position sitting halfway between two counties Bear River was referred to as "The Bridge" for several years.

The first export of apples in Nova Scotia is believed to have been made in 1849 by Benjamin Weir of Halifax and Ambrose Bent of Paradise who exported from Halifax to Liverpool, England.

A native of Welsford in the Annapolis Valley, Alfred C. Fuller established a door-to-door sales empire which gained international success and still bears his name.

October 29, 1926 - Weather today - brilliant sunshine, rain, a flurry of snow, heavy wind, and at 11 in the morning a hailstorm, accompanied by lightening and several crashes of thunder! This is definitely a full day of weather.

A Cape Island fishing boat is also known as "the workhorse of the Nova Scotia fishing fleet"

If you are seeing "flankers" then you are seeing sparks coming from the chimney.

The musical variety show "Sing Along Jubilee" replaced the "Don Messer Show" on Halifax's CBC-TV.

In January, 1922 Miss Mildred Orde of Graywood had a twin apple - one stalk but two cores and pits. Was quite a freak.

In 1840 there were sixteen stores in Granville Ferry and shipbuilding was the main industry.

Prior to the completion of the Dominion Atlantic Railway run from Halifax to Yarmouth in 1893, a traveller had to buy four separate tickets for the trip. One from Halifax to Windsor where he changed cars; another from Windsor to Annapolis Royal via the Windsor to Annapolis Railway; then a ticket to Digby via a steam boat or coach; and then the fourth from Digby to Yarmouth by the Western Counties railway.

Edna Lockhart Duncanson was the only female Canadian to play in the United States Professional Baseball League. A native of Avonport, she suited up for the New York City Bloomer Girls in 1935.

On July 28, 1921 the temperature at the Annapolis Train Station at 1 p.m. was 93 degrees in the shade, which was a new record for that day.

The scallops harvested by the Digby scallop fleet are sea scallops. These sea scallops are only found in the northwest Atlantic Ocean from Cape Hatteras north to Labrador.

Small railed platforms found on top of many houses along the coast are called a "Widow's Walk".

Nova Scotia used to enter prize-winning floral floats in the Rose Bowl Parade in California until the government change in 1978.

The Nova Scotia Tartan was the first provincial tartan in Canada. The name Nova Scotia is Latin for New Scotland and the tartan reflects the importance of the Scots to the founding of the province.

The Story - A Big Joke is a rather humorous story that has been told over the years, happening in the backwoods of Caledonia.

Located in Bridgetown the Apostles Hotel was a favored spot for meals and overnight stays while passing through the little town.

The Hillsdale House Inn still sits proudly along St. George Street in Annapolis Royal. Except for a brief time the house has been used as an Inn and Guest House.

Now we will look at the story of the Queen Hotel which is located across the street from the Hillsdale House Inn. It is called the Queen Anne Inn now.

“The Four Daughters” is a cute story about how one man managed to bring up his daughters alone. It takes place back in the time of the stage coaches and shows how inventive our valley residents can be.

One of the biggest mysteries of the area is the story of Jerome who was found abandoned on the shore at Sandy Cove. Still today many people try to explain who he was and where he came from.

The Margaretsville mystery woman has been written in many books on ghost stories of the area. It has not really ever been proven if she was a ghost or just a mystery.

The Pool Shark of Granville Ferry is the story about a guy who had an unique ability. This ability could be useful, but wasn’t good for his job!

A Mr. Isaiah Munro was about to harvest his hay crop in Greywood, south of Annapolis Royal, when he noticed a lot of smoke coming from one of his fields. He was about to discover the horrific murder of Charlotte Hill.

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Have your own page on my website!

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What did you see here that was different from other places? Share with us how it was different! Better yet show us with pictures along with telling us.
What new thing did you try on your vacation? What was it and how did you like it? Should we try it? We'd love to see some pictures of you doing it!
Just move here? Tell us how you like it and how it is different from where you came from! Got any pictures to compare?
How many whales did you see on your Whale Watching adventure? Was there any other marine life around that day? Did you get any great shots of the whales?
What is your favourite festival in the Annapolis Valley? What are your favourite events held during that festival. Got any pictures of you taking part in the festival?
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A freak apple was discovered by Mr. Collins, Annapolis Royal in 1921 from one of his apple trees. The apple was clearly one half gravenstien and the other half deep red, the colour was perfectly marked from stalk to pit.

Before the Digby Scallop Days festival, Digby used to celebrate the Digby Fishermen's Regatta, started in 1911.

Horton Academy was established in Wolfville in 1828 and it was the forerunner of Acadia University.

Born in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia Abraham Gesner is responsible for inventing kerosene.

Despite 15-foot snow banks in 1953 migratory yellow grosbeaks have touched down at their old feeding grounds here.

The famous Nova Scotia schooner "the Bluenose" was featured on a blue 13 cent stamp in 1935.

Deported Acadians that ended up in Louisiana are often referred to as "Cajuns".

In 1923 traffic on Nova Scotian roads switch from driving on the left to the right hand side of the road.

Charles Fenerty, a lumberman's son from Sackville, Nova Scotia was the first to discover how to make paper from ground pulp.

In the summer we can't wait for a bowl of "Hodge Podge" which is made with all new vegetables from the garden.

People in the Grand Banks fishery industry are away from home for days or weeks at a time and are referred to as "Bankers".

April of 2003 saw the worst flooding on record in the Annapolis Valley. Heavy rains over a long period of time combined with spring thaw managed to knock out 47 bridges and 200 roads in Nova Scotia.

Sam Langford originally from Weymouth Falls was a Black Canadian boxing standout of the early part of the 20th century. He was known as the "Boston Bonecrusher," "Boston Terror" and, his most infamous nickname, the "Boston Tar Baby."

In 1924 hotels and homes received their supply of ice from horse and wagon teams, brought in from the lakes.

In the early 1800s the Gates family had a plant at Port George where they made their Doctor's Home Remedies

Although it is now worn down by millions of years of erosion, the North Mountain once towered higher than the Rocky Mountains.

According to Mi’kmaq tradition, syrup made from the bark of a black cherry tree will relieve coughs brought on by colds.

In 1840 there were sixteen stores in Granville Ferry and shipbuilding was the main industry.

In the mid 1960’s, the NHL team the Montreal Canadians held their training camp in Kentville.

Born in Kentville, Gladys Porter was both the first female mayor in Eastern Canada in the 1940's and the first female to be elected to the Nova Scotia Legislature.

Our average of thunder & lightening is about 10 days per year, which is down from any other Canadian province.

A "Sou-wester" is a fisherman's oilskin cap that has a brood brim and it slops down at the back. They are usually yellow.

"Fly-beer" is a drink made from brewing potatoes and hops.

Nova Scotia donated six bald eagles to the United States in 1984 to help protect their national image.