Pier 21
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Pier 21 is a Canadian museum and National Historic Site in Nova Scotia's Halifax Regional Municipality.
Located in Halifax's South End in the Halifax Ocean Terminals, Pier 21 was used as a passenger terminal for trans-Atlantic ocean liners (ships such as the Aquitania) from 1928 until 1971. During this time it was also the primary point of entry for over 1 million immigrants and refugees from Europe, as well as the departure point for thousands of Canadian troops during World War Two. The facility is often compared to Ellis Island and was known as the 'Gateway to Canada.'
From 1971 until the late 1990s, Pier 21 sat as a mostly dormant warehouse, aside from the pier itself being used as the Halifax Port Authority's cruise ship dock.
The Halifax Port Authority undertook to redevelop Pier 21 into a museum and cruise ship terminal, recognizing the history of the facility in shaping Canada through the 20th century. In 1999 it re-opened and was added to the List of national historic sites of Canada.
Its museum is dedicated to the thousands of people who passed through its doors. It also has an event venue which is used for large conferences and corporate annual shareholder meetings. US President, George W. Bush gave a speech at Pier 21 during his first official visit to Canada in December, 2004.
Statistics:
- 1,000,000 immigrants
- 100,000 refugees
- 50,000 war brides and their 22,000 children
- 3,000 evacuated British children escaping World War II
- thousands of Canadian soldiers and aircrew who served in the European Theatre during World War II
