Nova Scotia Archives The Google rating is 4.7

Discover Nova Scotia’s rich past when you visit the Nova Scotia Archives. From government records to personal stories, the Archives preserves and shares a vast collection of documents that capture the province’s heritage and culture from the past 300 years.

As one of Canada’s oldest archival institutions, the Nova Scotia Archives is known for its welcoming, visitor-focused experience. Each year, thousands of researchers, history enthusiasts, and curious travelers explore its resources both in person and online. Whether you’re tracing your family’s roots or simply curious about Nova Scotia’s storied past, the Archives team is available to assist you both online and in person.

In Spring 2026, the “Black Loyalists in Canada: Autonomy, Advocacy, Community, Legacy” collection, which is jointly held by the Nova Scotia Archives, the Black Loyalist Heritage Centre, the Shelburne County Museum, and the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, was added to UNESCO’s Canada Memory of the World Register which recognizes documentary heritage of national significance.

Archival holdings at the Nova Scotia Archives include:

• inactive records of Nova Scotia government departments and corporate bodies (churches, businesses, organizations, etc.);
• papers of families and individuals;
• documents detailing the history of the Black Loyalists in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
• a 50,000-title library;
• historical newspapers;
• genealogical sources;
• documentary art and photographs;
• maps and architectural plans;
• sound recordings and moving images