McNabs Island is located at the entrance to Halifax Harbour, near Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia. Fort McNab was built in the 1880s and was at one time the most powerful guardian of Halifax. It served as an important counter-bombardment battery in the two World Wars and was decommissioned in 1959.
Notes from "The Halifax Defence Complex"
(20 to 30-minute boat ride from Halifax/10-minute boat ride from Eastern Passage) – Adventure over the Halifax Harbour and immerse in the vast fort that played a vital role in the Halifax Defense Complex. Fort McNab was strategically placed and acted as a gatekeeper to the Halifax Harbour up until it was decommissioned in 1959. This was the first fort in Halifax to have breech-loading artillery. Today, visitors can wander the trails and battered fortifications and uncover the deep history of the island for themselves. For information on how to get to McNabs Island, visit www.mcnabisland.ca
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Construction began on Fort McNab in 1888 and was finished in 1892. The fort marked a new chapter in Halifax’s history as one of the British Empire’s, and subsequently Canada’s, most significant naval stations during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Fort McNab was Halifax’s first fort to have swift-acting breech-loading armament.
Between the 1880s and the 1940s, Fort McNab served as a gun battery and stood as the Gatekeeper of Halifax Harbour.
Halifax, Nova Scotia to McNabs Island, Nova Scotia 5 places The Defence Complex consists of five sites found along the shores of Halifax Harbour. View VisitList
Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia to Torbay, Newfoundland and Labrador 39 places Some of the places that connect to the complex military history of Canada and the world View VisitList
Grand Pré, Nova Scotia to Halifax, Nova Scotia 11 places Among countless experiences, Canoo users can take advantage of free admission to many of the sites participating in Historic Places Days. Discover some of these sites within the province of Nova Scotia through the list below and start planning your visits today! View VisitList
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