One of Nova Scotia's 10 living history attractions, the Hector Heritage Quay Interpretation Centre relates the story of the Town of Pictou beginning on September 15th, 1773, the date on which the ship
Hector sailed into the Pictou harbour with 189 Scottish emigrants aboard, hoping to make a new life in Nova Scotia. This event represented the beginning of a huge migration of people from various areas of the United Kingdom to North America, a great many of them to Nova Scotia and to the Pictou area in particular.
The Hector Heritage Quay consists of a three storey Interpretive Centre which contains a wealth of information on immigration, in particular Scottish immigration, and, docked at the wharf is the centrepiece of the museum, a replica of the ship "Hector". The centre was officially opened
by Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal Lady Camilla on July 6, 1991.
Toward the rear of the Interpretive Centre, on the west side wall, is a
web camera which is aimed at
The Hector toward the southwest. The camera provides 24/7 video, so I'm unable to provide a live pic from it, only the static pic in the gallery.
Hector Heritage Quay
On September 15, 1773 the Ship Hector landed at Brown’s Point in Pictou Harbour. On board were 189 Scottish Highlanders who had left their homes with the promise of land and a better life in the New World.
The Hector, a three-masted cargo vessel, was the first ship to directly transport passengers from Scotland to Nova Scotia. This historic voyage marked the beginning of a massive wave of immigration that would shape the future of North America and gave Pictou the honour of being called “the birthplace of New Scotland”.
The replica Ship Hector and the Hector Heritage Quay re-tells the story of those first settlers. The Museum delves into why the Scottish settlers left their homeland beginning with the battle of Culloden. It looks at the voyage over through the great unknown and what it was like for the settlers once they arrived.
The site offers guided or self directed tours, daily events such as workshops and demonstrations, and you never know when a bagpiper may appear! New to the site just last year are audio guides which are available in both French and English. Upon request there is also a binder with a french translation of the displays. There is also a smaller pamphlet in German that will give some background information about the site and the ship.
From the Hector Heritage Quay