3 Best Sights in South Shore and Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia

Fort Anne National Historic Site

Gazing over the grassy knolls, it's hard to believe that this fort qualifies as the "most attacked spot in Canadian history" or that those knolls are actually nearly 400-year-old earthwork ramparts built up, in part, with rubble and blood. First fortified in 1629, the site preserves what is left of the fourth military edifice to be erected here, an early-18th-century gunpowder magazine and officers' quarters. The latter now houses a small museum, and anyone who believes a picture is worth 1,000 words should be sure to see the massive Heritage Tapestry displayed inside. Its four meticulously detailed panels depict four centuries of local history and as many local cultures. Special events at the fort include reenactments and Mi'Kmaq cultural presentations. 

Fort Edward National Historic Site

Despite a devastating fire in 1897, some evidence of Windsor's earliest days remains at Fort Edward, which, dating from 1750, is the oldest blockhouse in Canada.

67 Fort Edward St., Windsor, Nova Scotia, B0N 2T0, Canada
902-798–2639-July and Aug.
Sights Details
Rate Includes: Free, Closed Sun., Mon., and early Sept.–mid-June

Western Counties Military Museum

Dating from 1843, Barrington's old courthouse now houses this museum, with an impressive collection of military memorabilia ranging from 17th-century cannonballs to items from the two world wars and the Korean War. It includes uniforms, medals, and a large collection of photographs. Most evocative of all are the personal stories of local people who served.

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