Port-Royal National Historic Site, Open-air museum in Port Royal, Nova Scotia, Canada
Port-Royal National Historic Site is an open-air museum in Port Royal, Annapolis County, Nova Scotia. The reconstructed wooden structures form a courtyard where furnishings and objects from the early period of French settlement are on display.
Samuel de Champlain founded this settlement in 1605 as one of the earliest European outposts north of Florida in North America. The original buildings fell into ruin after the site was abandoned, until they were rebuilt in the 1930s following historical plans.
French language and Acadian traditions shape how the story is told to visitors today. The blacksmithing and woodworking methods shown follow early seventeenth-century techniques that connect the site to its original inhabitants.
Guided tours with costumed interpreters run from May through October and show craft techniques from that era. Visitors interested in the rooms can explore the living quarters and workshops at their own pace.
The square layout with a covered walkway was a novelty in North American settlement design for that period. This arrangement protected residents from wind and snow and made winter work easier.
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