Nova Scotia Canada - Historic Town of Lunenburg
World Heritage Site and Birthplace of Bluenose Schooner
Oct 3, 2009
However, history books say that the first French settlers, who became known as ‘Acadians’ arrived as early as 1605 and although they were the first European settlers, Lunenburg was not officially founded until 1753 when the German immigrants came, the result of public posters being distributed around the country describing the benefits to be had by settling in the New World. Almost 1500 Germans arrived in Nova Scotia in 1753. Their settlement was overseen by British military forces whose government was eager to reduce the French influence in the area. The proposed town to be developed was named Lunenburg, in honour of King George II, Duke of Brunschweig-Lunenburg. There is still a strong German community in Lunenburg today.
Lunenburg’s Historic Houses
Lunenburg was designated a World Heritage Site in 1995. Its unique architecture is an excellent example of planned British Colonial settlement. The town is full of architectural treats. There are beautifully preserved houses, churches and public buildings from the late 1700s and particularly the early 1800s that are still being used today.
The Kaulbach House Historic Inn is pure Victorian with period brass beds and white broiderie anglais bed covers - everything beautifully in period. The oldest house in Lunenburg, built in 1760, is to be found at 134 Montague Street. There are many more fine old houses painted in rainbow colours. Really worth a stroll around town to explore them.
Lunenburg - Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic
Amongst the numerous brightly coloured buildings which stretch along Lunenburg’s waterfront sits this very interesting museum which commemorates the fishing heritage of Canada’s Atlantic coast. There are three floors of exhibitions where visitors can learn about whales and whaling, visit the boat-building shop, learn how to quilt or make a hooked mat, plus much more. There’s also an excellent aquarium. But the museum’s star attractions, which are moored nearby, are two historic fishing vessels where demonstration by the museum staff bring to life what life was like on board and how the traditional methods of cod fishing were used.
Lunenburg - Bluenose
Lunenburg is the birthplace of the world-famous schooner, Bluenose, which was launched in 1920. In her eighteen years racing career she never lost a race. She was the undefeated North Atlantic Fishing Fleet champion and winner of several international schooner races. She was the pride of Lunenburg but unfortunately she had a rather sad end. In 1938 Bluenose was sold and became a tramp schooner in the Caribbean where, in 1946, she was wrecked on a reef off Haiti. She was a symbol of pride for the inhabitants of Lunenburg and and of Nova Scotia as a whole. Her image endures on the face of the Canadian dime (ten cent coin).
The Fisheries Museum contains the largest collection of Bluenose memorabilia in the world.
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