Welcome to The Roarbots’ series of Parks Canada Adventures. Similar to our NPS Adventures, this series takes a big-picture view of a single Parks Canada site and highlights some of the best activities it has to offer. This is usually done through a kid-friendly lens and almost always includes activities and suggestions we can recommend from personal experience. And pictures. There are lots and lots of pictures. Glad to have you aboard!

Welcome to Fort Anne National Historic Site!

Parks Canada touts Fort Anne NHS as “Canada’s first administered National Historic Site,” but that’s apparently a bit of a misnomer. It’s actually the country’s second site to be named a historical landmark. The first, Fort Howe in New Brunswick, was later transferred to a provincial authority, whereas Fort Anne has remained under national jurisdiction. Didn’t think you were in for a lesson in Canadian historical preservation so early in the day, did you? You’re welcome.

Regardless, Fort Anne is located in charming Annapolis Royal (sister city to Annapolis, the capital of the fine state of Maryland – my home – which certainly appealed to me) on the southwest coast of Nova Scotia and is well worth the journey.

Folks, let me tell you: Nova Scotia is just flat-out gorgeous. It should be on every Canadian itinerary, and we’re already planning a return trip. It’s also home to a surprising number of Parks Canada sites; Fort Anne is actually just minutes away from the impressive Port-Royal NHS. Both sites can easily be done in a day (even as a daytrip from Halifax or Saint John).

But what is Fort Anne? In short, it’s what remains of a long line of forts first erected by the Scots (as early as 1629), subsequently built by the French, and finally taken over and rebuilt by the British. It’s also on a stretch of land that was one of the most-fought-over bits of real estate in all of Canada (some 13 battles were fought here, and it changed hands several times). It was a regular scene of battles until the fall of Quebec in 1759. (Read up on more of the fort’s history here.)

Stats

• Fort Anne National Historic Site
• Location: Nova Scotia
• Established: 1920
• Admission: $3.90 (Canadian) per adult; senior, youth, and group rates available
• Social Sites: Twitter

(Click on all pictures to embiggen.)

Officers’ Quarters and Museum

Housed in the renovated 1797 officers’ quarters (the biggest structure on property), the museum presents exhibits that trace some 3,000 years of history and explore the relationships between the native Mi’kmaq, French, British, Acadians, and African Nova Scotians who called this place home at various times.

Probably the most impressive “artifact” on display is the Fort Anne Tapestry (2.4 m x 5.5 m / 8 ft x 18 ft), which depicts 400 years of local history and required 100 volunteers and 3 million stitches.

Fort Grounds

Away from the officers’ quarters and museum, the remains of the fort – including the ramparts, fortifications, and a few structures – are open for exploration. There’s a walking trail around the perimeter of the fort, but there are only a few areas of the grounds that are off limits. So you can ramble wherever your feet may take you. But tread lightly over history.

Tours and Special Programs

Many historical sites in the Parks Canada system offer unique “white glove tours” that give visitors a behind-the-scenes or otherwise in-depth look at the site and its significance. Fort Anne’s tour (an additional $9.80/person) offers a chance to see the archives, library, and artifacts in storage. During the summer and early fall, there’s also a candlelight graveyard tour (additional fee). A 19th-century mourner leads visitors through the Fort Anne Garrison graveyard – one of the oldest English graveyards in Canada. (Note: Though both of these tours sound awesome, we didn’t have the opportunity to experience them ourselves.)

Red Chairs

Fort Anne was the first stop on our recent (and epic) road trip through Canada’s maritime provinces, so we were unfamiliar with the #sharethechair phenomenon beforehand. However, we quickly became obsessed with finding them. In short, every site in the Parks Canada system has pairs of red Adirondack chairs at the most impressive, photogenic, and awe-inspiring locations. At a relatively small site like Fort Anne, they’re easy to find. In some of the national parks, there are multiple sets of chairs, and some of them are in seriously out-of-the-way spots. Half the fun is the hunt! Fort Anne’s chairs overlook the remains of the fort and a sweeping vista of the Annapolis River.

Xplorers

If you have kids, Parks Canada’s Xplorers program (their equivalent of the National Park Service’s Junior Ranger program) should not be missed. Most sites in the system offer an Xplorers booklet, which encourages kids to ask questions, discover hidden corners of the park, keep their eyes open, and be active visitors. It’s a must-do feature of every Parks Canada visit, and the kids delighted in earning their dog tags at each location.