The full-size replica of Ship Hector is undergoing a full restoration onsite and will be back in the waters of Pictou Harbour in 2026.
The Hector Heritage Quay is one of Nova Scotia’s 10 living history museums. The interpretative centre tells the story of the 18-century Scottish migration to the New World and the role of Ship Hector in making Pictou the “Birthplace of New Scotland”.
Walk through the immersive exhibits to discover the settlers’ stories, why they decided to come to Nova Scotia in 1773, and the hardships they overcame. The local Indigenous community was instrumental in their survival for the first few years of settlement.
The story of the Hector and its passengers is a unique tale of the first permanent, enduring Scottish settlement in Nova Scotia. Those who arrived aboard the Hector, as well as those Scottish settlers who followed, made enormous cultural, political, intellectual and industrial contributions that shaped Nova Scotia and the rest of Canada.
The Hector Heritage Quay also includes a working forge, rigging room, and carpentry shop with lots of examples of early tools used in shipbuilding, as well as original drawings and plans for the Ship Hector.
The rebuild can be viewed on the documentary series, Rebuilding the Hector on YouTube.
Date Details/Hours of Operation
May to August: Open 7 days per week; 10am to 6pm dailySeptember 1 to September 30: Open Wednesday to Sunday; 10am to 4pm (closed Monday & Tuesday except for pre-arranged group tours)
