When the British founded the city in 1749, what attracted them most to the location of Chebucto was the tremendous harbour. However, another strong feature from a defensive perspective was the high hill overlooking the harbour and its approaches. On this hill was constructed the central fortress for the defence of the new town and naval base, and it was named the Citadel. The fortress has been rebuilt several times, however, it still commands the harbour. Today's Citadel is the fourth fort to occupy the location. The top of the hill itself has been lowered some 40 to 70 feet through all the construction and leveling.
The first fortification of any real permanence on the Hill began in 1761 by Bastie. The fortress as it is today was completed in 1856, following 30 years of construction. The Citadel has a Bauban trace system design. There are even galleries from the outer walls facing in that could be used to spray lead upon those who happened into the dry moat trench.
While in Halifax, don't be alarmed to hear cannon fire, particularly if it is around lunch time. At precisely 12 o'clock each day, the Noon Gun is fired from atop the Citadel. But, there is nothing to worry about. For many years though, the Citadel housed a huge magazine inside its earthworks, capable of holding 1,346 barrels of powder. According to Thomas Raddall, Citadel Hill was "like Vesuvius over Pompeii, a smiling monster with havoc in its belly".
The Museum and Art Gallery within the Citadel are recommended. The Citadel is obviously a great vantage point for viewing the harbour and many of the other stops on your tour.
Facing southeast from the vantage point of Citadel Hill you can look out to Eastern Passage, the passage of water that separates McNab's Island (the larger of the two in the harbour, the other being George's) and the Dartmouth side mainland. In 1864, during the American Civil War, the Confederate cruiser "Tallahassee" made its daring and successful dash for freedom through the Eastern Passage. The Tallahassee had slipped out of Wilmington, North Carolina, harried shipping into New York Harbor and sank 50 northern merchant vessels along the coast. She was chased into Halifax Harbour by the Union cruisers Huron and Nansemond. Under British neutrality laws, the Tallahassee had but 48 hours to take on coal and repair any damage before departing.
The lighted Union warships guarded the mouth of Halifax Harbour, waiting for the Tallahassee to attempt an escape. The Tallahassee's captain, John Taylor Wood, risked his darkened ship through the narrow, winding and shallow Eastern Passage under the guidance of a local pilot, Jock Fleming. British Admiral Sir James Hope must have been relieved to see his new friend Wood escape destruction by the two Union ships sitting easily within reach of his fleet and fortress guns.