Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Shelburne
Shelburne's historic waterfront area bobs with sailboats and has 17 pre-1800 homes - it
feels like a historical recreation but it's real. The wonderfully maintained, low-in-the-
earth buildings once housed Loyalists who retreated here from the American Revolution.
In 1783 Shelburne was the largest community in British North America, with 16,000 res-
idents, many from the New York aristocracy, who exploited the labor of Black Loyalists
living in nearby Birchtown. Shelburne's history is celebrated with
Founders' Days
dur-
ing the last weekend of July.
Sights & Activities
Shelburne has started organizing a slew of activities from mid-June to mid-August, in-
cluding daily demonstrations around town by folks in period costumes of old-style cook-
ing, sewing, music, military exercises, carving and more; schedules change daily but start
around 1pm. Check at the visitor information center for more information.
There's a
trail
for hiking or biking the 6km to Birchtown across from Spencer's
Garden Centre at the far south end of Main St. Pick up an excellent self-guided walking-
tour map at the visitor information center.
Admission to the following museums is $4, but you can buy a pass that covers all four
for $10.
Ross-Thomson House
MUSEUM
( 902-875-3141;
http://rossthomson.novascotia.ca
;
9 Charlotte Lane; 9:30am-5:30pm Jun-
Oct)
Built in 1784, Ross-Thomson House belonged to well-to-do Loyalist merchants who
arrived in Shelburne from Cape Cod. Furniture, paintings and original goods from the
store are on display. The house is surrounded by authentic period gardens. Admission is
free on Sunday mornings.
Shelburne County Museum
MUSEUM
( 902-875-3219;
www.historicshelburne.com
; cnr Maiden Lane & Dock St; 9:30am-5:30pm)
A
Loyalist house (c 1787 ) is now the Shelburne County Museum. It has a collection of
Loyalist furnishings, displays on the history of the local fishery and a small collection of
Mi'kmaw artifacts.
Muir-Cox Shipyard
MUSEUM
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