Dartmouth Heritage Museum

• Evergreen House
• Quaker House
• Dartmouth Heritage Museum Society

The Dartmouth Heritage Museum started from humble beginnings; a group of like-minded citizens began presenting collections of artifacts in two local schools to promote awareness of heritage in our region. Interest in this project grew as the schools, other community groups, and City Council saw merit in their efforts. The Dartmouth Museum Society was formed in 1961 by many of these original citizens. Members of the Dartmouth Museum Society, concerned with the demolition of many of the sites of historic significance in and around the then City of Dartmouth, lobbied the municipal and provincial governments to establish a community museum. The Museum itself was established in 1967 as a Canadian Centennial Project by the City of Dartmouth and was set up at 100 Wyse Road.

After the Halifax Regional Municipality amalgamation in 1996, the Dartmouth Heritage Museum became known briefly as the Regional Museum of Cultural History and then returned to its original name in 1999. During 1999/2000, the Halifax Regional Municipality worked with the community to establish the Museum as a non-profit community operated facility.
In 2002, the Wyse Road location was condemned and demolished; soon thereafter the Museum headquarters moved to Evergreen House and the main collection was moved to storage.

Today, the Halifax Regional Municipality and the Dartmouth Heritage Museum Society continue collaborating to deliver quality interpretation and educational programming to the community. While HRM owns the collection and both Historic Houses, the Society, as an independent non-profit association, develops, manages, promotes, operates and administers the properties and the collection. This ongoing relationship enables the Dartmouth Heritage Museum to continue to celebrate our local heritage as a Canadian Charitable Organization.

The contents of the Dartmouth Heritage Museum collection primarily reflect the geographical boundaries of the former City of Dartmouth. Pu'namoqwati'jk (Dartmouth) is the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People. Colonization of Dartmouth began in 1750 with the landing of the Alderney. The Town of Dartmouth was incorporated in 1873. In 1996, Dartmouth amalgamated to become part of the Halifax Regional Municipality. The Dartmouth Heritage Museum collection reflects a civic history and largely represents Victorian Dartmouth to the 1930s, from a colonial perspective.

The Halifax Regional Municipality owns the Dartmouth Heritage Museum Collection and the two historic buildings that operate as museums – Evergreen House and Quaker House. The Dartmouth Heritage Museum Society operates the museums and maintains physical and intellectual access to the collection and archival material.

We use storytelling to inform the public and strengthen community bonds. Our programming will help frame an understanding of past choices, present circumstances, and future possibilities. We commit to: Engagement, Education, and Storytelling.

We exist as a non-profit society formed under the Articles of Association. We subscribe to mutually agreed Guiding Principles and collaborate with our partner, the Halifax Regional Municipality, in accordance with a multi-year Management and Operating Agreement.

A portion of the DHM collection is available online at NovaMuse. MemoryNS is updated irregularly and does not reflect the full array of the collection. Please contact DHM with specific questions and prior to visiting the museums. Most of the collection is stored off site, so advance notice is required.

Evergreen House is open Tuesday to Friday 10am to 5pm from September to May; Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm from June to August

Quaker House is open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm from June to August.

Please call in advance with research requests. Most of the collection is stored off site and advance notice is required to retrieve items.

We will respond to requests by email within 5 business days. Please call 902-464-2300 for urgent requests.

The museums are free admission, donations appreciated. There are fees for research and obtaining copies of documents. Please contact us for more information.

Evergreen House and Quaker House are not wheelchair accessible. Both are historic houses with uneven floors and stairs to enter the building and view all levels. There is partially accessible research space on the lower floor of Evergreen. Washrooms are not accessible.

Both Evergreen House and Quaker House are on Halifax Transit bus routes. There is parking at Evergreen House and public street parking (Pay) at Quaker House. A bicycle rack is available at Evergreen House.

An onsite research area is available at Evergreen House. Computer and wi-fi available. Advance notice for specific areas of interest is required. In an in-person visit is not possible, a one hour research service can be provided. Please contact us for more information. We encourage all researchers to submit a research request on our website.

Researchers can purchase reproductions of most material in various formats depending of the researcher’s needs, the needs of the records, and legal restrictions. Requests can be made by email if the researcher can specify the material needed.