Pier 21

Paul had meetings in Dartmouth on Tuesday and Wednesday, so I took the days off and went with him. We arrived in Datrmouth around noon on Tuesday, so he dropped me off at the ferry and over I went to Halifax. It was a good 15 min. walk to Pier 21 and thankfully it wasn't too cold. Above is a picture of the front entrance....it certainly didn't look that way 56 years ago when Dad immigrated to Canada. Notice the train on the left....this is how most continued their journey to their host families.

This is a picture of the ship "Rhydam", the one Dad came over on. He left holland on March 13th and arrived on March 25th, 1953.

This is the upper level that some would have entered through. They would have walked up a gangway to get from ship to building. Now it is all glassed in. To the left of the picture just above the bench you see a gray slab on the wall. On that slab are small green plaques with names of soldiers who came through Pier 21 during the war.

This is the original door that immigrants would have walked through. Inside is where their luggage would have been checked as well as their papers.

This is a view of the lower level. Now it's a gift shop and cafe.

Immigrants have donated the luggage they came with. It's all over the museum.

Cages that would have housed their luggage until they were cleared to continue their voyage.

During Pier 21 (1928-1971) Dutch Immigrants were the 5th largest ethnic group to arrive in Canada. Pre WWII most settled in Ontario....15,000 between 1918 and 1939. It largely halted with the onset of WWII and peaked again in the late 1940's and 1950's. One Dutch family did indeed bring the kitchen sink and another the rock that held their front door open, because the mother didn't know if such a thing was available in Canada. Brenna is the same age Dad was when he immigrated to Canada.

When you enter the museum, to your right and left are silver plaques with names of immigrants. We purchased one for Dad a number of years ago. I had seen pictures of it but this was the first time I had visited the museum.